Partisan and Gender Considerations in Determining Vote Choice: The Irish Case

• In Event: The Causes and Consequences of Women’s Representation

Abstract

When voters do not have strong feelings about political parties, does the gender of candidates become more important in determining vote choice? There is a wide body of literature examining the effect of a candidate’s gender on their chances of success. However, there has been relatively little research examining whether there is an interaction between voters’ levels of partisanship and their prioritisation of candidates’ gender. In other words, when voters are less concerned about candidates’ party, does the gender of candidates become more important in determining vote choice? This paper will analyse this question in the context of preferential voting systems. Such systems are ideal for assessing such a dynamic because they allow voters to express opinions on all candidates, providing a clearer idea on their relative prioritisation of candidates’ gender. The interplay between partisanship and gender considerations will be examined using election studies that include questions on levels of closeness to parties, as well as sample ballots allowing voters to indicate their full list of preferences.

Author

• Sinéad C. M. Harrington, Trinity College Dublin