Analysis demonstrates the turnout gap between local and national elections in Germany, highlighting contextual influences.
Key Points
This research aims to analyze the turnout gap between local and federal elections in Germany and identify contextual factors that affect its magnitude.
Utilized a new dataset on voter turnout in national and local elections in Germany from 1980 to 2019.
Conducted comparative analysis of voter turnout across various municipalities to examine differences between local and federal elections.
Identified factors such as the electoral system, municipality size, and presence of national parties that influence turnout differences.
Local elections generally show lower voter turnout compared to national elections.
The turnout gap decreases in smaller municipalities and when national parties play a larger role in local politics.
Closed-list electoral systems negatively influence voter turnout in local elections.