JOURNAL ARTICLE

Who Votes by Post? Understanding the Drivers of Postal Voting in the 2019 British General Election.

  • Published In: Parliamentary Affairs, 2023, v. 76, n. 1. P. 43 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Townsley, Joshua; Turnbull-Dugarte, Stuart J; Trumm, Siim; Milazzo, Caitlin 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines the rising trend of postal voting in Britain, focusing on the 2019 UK general election, using data from the British Election Study. It finds that postal voting is primarily driven by voters' desire to reduce the costs associated with in-person voting, with older and disabled citizens significantly more likely to vote by post. Additionally, voters without a partisan identity are more inclined to vote by post, as partisans derive greater expressive benefits from voting in person. The study also reveals that voters in more competitive (marginal) constituencies are more likely to cast postal ballots. These findings highlight the need for political parties to tailor campaign strategies over extended periods and consider the differing motivations behind voting methods.

Additional Information

  • Source:Parliamentary Affairs. 2023/01, Vol. 76, Issue 1, p43
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Political Science
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:0031-2290
  • DOI:10.1093/pa/gsab049
  • Accession Number:160997913
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Parliamentary Affairs is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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