Abstract
We assume that people have a need to make statements, and construct a model in which this need is the sole determinant of voting behavior. In this model, an individual selects a ballot that makes as close a statement as possible to her ideal point, where abstaining from voting is a possible (null) statement. We show that in such a model, a political system that adopts approval voting may be expected to enjoy a significantly higher rate of participation in elections than a comparable system with plurality rule.
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Aragones, E., Gilboa, I. & Weiss, A. Making statements and approval voting. Theory Decis 71, 461–472 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11238-010-9208-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11238-010-9208-5