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Special elections in alternative vote electoral systems: Exploring turnout and the vote in Irish by-elections 1923-2019
[journal article]
Abstract Most literature on special elections has focused on first-past-the-post contests and on the performance of governments. Turnout, candidates, and how the electoral system impacts the result have received less attention. This contribution fills these voids by exploring special elections in Ireland, el... view more
Most literature on special elections has focused on first-past-the-post contests and on the performance of governments. Turnout, candidates, and how the electoral system impacts the result have received less attention. This contribution fills these voids by exploring special elections in Ireland, elections conducted under the alternative vote system. Taking a multifaceted approach, it investigates the correlates of turnout, the impact of candidates and the decisive effect of lower preferences, while also testing multiple explanations of government performance. I find Irish special elections live up to the by-election truisms of lower turnout and government loss. Government performance is associated with national economic conditions. By-election victory is more likely among candidates with familial lineage and former members of parliament. Where they come into play, one in five candidates owe their victory to lower preferences.... view less
Keywords
Ireland; electoral system; voter turnout; candidacy; voting behavior; election result
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Free Keywords
alternative vote; by-elections; government performance; special elections; turnout
Document language
English
Publication Year
2023
Page/Pages
p. 156-177
Journal
The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 25 (2023) 1
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/13691481211045730
ISSN
1467-856X
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications