The impact of compulsory voting on inequality and the quality of the vote

Democratic elections imply that the electorate holds incumbents accountable past performance, and that voters select the party that is closest to their own preferences. Previous research shows that both elements require political . A number of countries throughout the world have a system of voting, and this legal obligation boosts levels of voter turnout. Under rules, citizens with low levels of sophistication in particular are thought to out to vote in higher numbers. Is it the case that the quality of the vote reduced when these less sophisticated voters are compelled to vote? This investigates this claim by examining the effect of compulsory voting on and proximity voting. The results show that compulsory voting stratification based on knowledge and level of education, and proximity , but it does not have an effect on economic accountability. The article with some suggestions on how systems of compulsory voting might the strength of political sophistication in determining the quality of the decision process.