Voter Turnout and Post-Election Protests

• In Event: 30421 - Section on Global and Transnational Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 9. Parties, Populism, and Protest

Abstract

Analyses of post-election violence have mostly focused on factors such as election fraud, opposition dynamics, and human rights violations. Some scholars have discussed the potential influence of voter turnout on post-election protests. A systematic analysis of the relationship between the two, however, is yet to be analyzed. This study uses quantitative data from a variety of sources to address this issue. I hypothesize that given higher expectations for reform, elections with higher voter turnouts are more likely to lead to protest. This is especially the case if there are perceptions of election fraud.

Author

• Bashir Tofangsazi, Xavier University