What explains voter turnout in Latin America? : a test of the effect of citizens’ attitudes and perceptions

Abstract

Research on electoral participation at the individual level in Latin America remains scarce. Most previous studies have focused on the institutional determinants of cross-country differences in aggregate levels of turnout. This study provides an empirical examination of the individual-level factors that impact citizens’ propensity to vote in the region. I assess the link between citizens’ affection for political institutions and turnout using recent survey data from 18 Latin American countries from 2004 to 2014. Using logistic models I show that trust in elections, satisfaction with democracy, and respect for institutions have a significant effect on voter turnout in individual countries. Specifically, trust in elections remains the strongest predictor of turnout among the variables of interest. The analysis also confirms the importance of socio-demographic variables in explaining voter turnout across the region.