Following Through on an Intention to Vote

Present Bias and Turnout

Bibliographic Data

ID6342002
AuthorsSeth J Hill (0000-0002-3785-1533, University of California San Diego, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume8
Issue4
Pages803-810
Publication date2020-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Science Research and Methods (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2049-8470 • E-ISSN: 2049-8489
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/psrm.2018.56
OpenAlexW2901715145
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited22

Many citizens express an intention to vote but then fail to follow through on their motivation. It is well known that impulsiveness contributes to unsound behaviors with adverse individual consequences like smoking, overeating, and undersaving. I apply these findings and theory to political participation and argue that present bias is also likely to limit collective behaviors. Those who desire to act are challenged by impulsiveness in following through on their motivation. In a nationally representative survey merged to administrative records, those with present bias are around ten points less likely to vote. Importantly, those with present bias are less likely to vote even after expressing pre-election intention to do so. Along with a formal decision-theoretic model of turnout with present bias, the results provide a new framework to reason about the choice to vote, an alternative interpretation of the over-report of turnout, and have implications for policy approaches to promote individual action in the public interest

Action (physics · Collective action · Economics · Interpretation (philosophy · Political science · Politics · Public economics · Turnout · Voter turnout · Voting · Computer Science · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Economic and Environmental Valuation · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology

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