Compulsory civic duty and turnout

Evidence From a Natural Experiment

Bibliographic Data

ID6342017
AuthorsJoaquín Artés (0000-0003-0677-6072, Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Ignacio Jurado (0000-0003-2439-3817, Fundación Juan March, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume13
Issue1
Pages183-192
Publication date2025-01-01
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.2023.44
OpenAlexW4387875956
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited14

We study the effect of compulsory civic duty on turnout. We take advantage of a natural experiment in Spain, where electoral officers are selected through a lottery and being an electoral officer is compulsory for those drafted. We analyze whether acting as an officer changes turnout and attitudes in subsequent elections. Our findings show that compulsory civic duty has a strong short-term and positive effect on electoral participation, but has no impact on political attitudes. The positive effect of the civic duty treatment, however, fades after a few months. Our results have implications for theories about civic duty and the formation of political habits

Demographic economics · Duty · Economics · Lottery · Microeconomics · Natural experiment · Officer · Political science · Politics · Turnout · Voting · Culture, Economy, and Development Studies · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies · Law · Medicine · Public Administration

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