Review article

VOTER’S ABSTINENCE IN EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

Tomaž Deželan ; Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

The paper analyses the increasingly acute problem of low voter
turnout for the elections for the European Parliament. The author
identifies the key determinants of electoral participation, and focuses
on how election campaigns affect the electorates’ mobilization. By
analyzing the results of various polls and by applying Sinnott’s model
of voter participation to the Slovenian institutional context, the author
outlines the key circumstances leading to the disturbingly low voter
turnout. The author points out the weaknesses of the institutional preconditions – in the form of certain awkward electoral institutions,
primarily regarding the institutional mobilization marked by halfbaked
electoral strategies of political parties and the unremarkable and dull campaigns – that are supposed to increase voter participation.
The low level of institutional mobilization has evidently affected the electorate’s perceptions of power and trust in political institutions.
This is why the institutional incentives for taking a vote have not
been sufficient. By way of conclusion the author offers some recommendations concerning how to alter and improve the electoral institutions and the practice of the EU political parties, states and institutions.

Keywords

European elections; European Parliament; European Union; elections; election campaign; Slovenia

Hrčak ID:

20831

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/20831

Publication date:

11.9.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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