Order in Chaos: Ballot Order Effects in a Post-Conflict Election?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Order in Chaos

T2 - Ballot Order Effects in a Post-Conflict Election?

AU - Hansen, Bertel Teilfeldt

AU - Olsen, Asmus Leth

PY - 2014/10/1

Y1 - 2014/10/1

N2 - Ballot order effects are well documented in established democracies, but less so in newly democratizing countries. In this research note we analyze ballot order effects in the 2010 parliamentary election in Afghanistan. The election provides a first look at ballot order effects in a high stakes, post-conflict election. In this setting, we argue that limited cognitive skills and information are more likely explanations of potential ballot order effects than mechanisms of lacking effort or ambivalence of choice. However, we find no clear evidence of a positive effect on the vote share of a higher ballot position. This raises the broader question of how applicable anomalies found in political behavior are to post-conflict democracies.

AB - Ballot order effects are well documented in established democracies, but less so in newly democratizing countries. In this research note we analyze ballot order effects in the 2010 parliamentary election in Afghanistan. The election provides a first look at ballot order effects in a high stakes, post-conflict election. In this setting, we argue that limited cognitive skills and information are more likely explanations of potential ballot order effects than mechanisms of lacking effort or ambivalence of choice. However, we find no clear evidence of a positive effect on the vote share of a higher ballot position. This raises the broader question of how applicable anomalies found in political behavior are to post-conflict democracies.

U2 - 10.1177/2053168014559425

DO - 10.1177/2053168014559425

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2053-1680

VL - 1

JO - Research & Politics

JF - Research & Politics

IS - 3

ER -