None of the Above: Protest Voting in Latin American Democracies

Citizens cast blank and spoiled votes to express their concerns about low-quality candidates and express a preference for high-quality democracy. Campaigns promoting these votes can undermine the quality of elections, but can also shore up the quality of democracy in the short term.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 20 February 2024
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

Introduction:
Around the world, millions of citizens turn out to vote in elections, yet many leave their ballots empty or spoil them. This phenomenon has become increasingly prevalent, with campaigns emerging that promote "invalid" votes, such as blank or spoiled votes. Despite the prevalence of these practices, there is a lack of understanding about why citizens choose to cast blank and spoiled votes and how campaigns mobilizing the invalid vote influence this decision.

Research Methodology:
To address these questions, the author, Mollie J. Cohen, draws on a broad range of methods and sources. The data used in this book comes from electoral management bodies, nationally representative surveys, survey experiments, focus groups, semi-structured interviews, and news sources. Cohen incorporates a diverse range of methods to ensure that the findings are robust and reliable.

Findings:
Contrary to received wisdom, this book shows that most citizens cast blank or spoiled votes in presidential elections on purpose. By participating in invalid vote campaigns, citizens can voice their concerns about low-quality candidates while also expressing a preference for high-quality democracy. Campaigns promoting blank and spoiled votes come about more often, and succeed at higher rates, when incumbent politicians undermine the quality of elections.

Surprisingly, invalid vote campaigns can shore up the quality of democracy in the short term. This is because these campaigns can serve as a warning about the trajectory of a country's democracy. When blank and spoiled vote rates increase, it can signal that citizens are losing faith in the electoral process and are less likely to participate in future elections. This can lead to a decline in the quality of democracy, as elected officials may become less accountable to their constituents.

However, it is important to note that invalid vote campaigns can also have negative consequences. For example, they can undermine the legitimacy of the election results and can lead to political instability. In some cases, invalid vote campaigns can even be used to manipulate election outcomes and to undermine the democratic process.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book provides valuable insights into why citizens cast blank and spoiled votes and how campaigns mobilizing the invalid vote influence this decision. By understanding the motivations behind these practices, policymakers and civic leaders can work to improve the quality of democracy and to ensure that elections are fair, transparent, and accountable.

Weight: 442g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472056620