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International Migration and Turnout Bias

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2019

Michael J. Wigginton
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa
Daniel Stockemer
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa
Jasmine van Schouwen
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa
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Abstract

This article focuses on two commonly used indicators of turnout, VAP turnout (the number of votes cast as a percentage of the voting-age population) and RV turnout (votes cast as a percentage of the number of registered voters), and discusses possible biases induced by migration flows. Using a global dataset on elections in more than 100 democracies between 1990 and 2012, we tested the potential bias induced by the percentage of resident noncitizens and nationals living abroad on VAP and RV turnout, respectively. Through time-series cross-sectional analysis, we found that the number of resident noncitizens negatively biases VAP turnout, to the extent that a country with 10% noncitizen residents would have turnout underreported by nearly 4 percentage points. In contrast, we found that the number of nationals living abroad does not induce a turnout bias.

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Type
Article
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 2019 
Figure 0

Table 1Measurement and Sourcing of Control Variables

Figure 1

Table 2Univariate Statistics

Figure 2

Figure 1Relationship between the Percentage of Foreigners Living in a Country and VAP Turnout

Figure 3

Figure 2Relationship between the Percentage of Nationals Living Abroad and RV Turnout

Figure 4

Table 3Regression Analyses Measuring the Influence of Migration Flows on Turnout4

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