Counting counts moved! All future contributions can be found on our new website - We will continue to offer accessible academic research and commentary on various topics related to electoral systems and representation. So just stop by from time to time or visit us on twitter @electsystblog   

 

 

Counting Counts

“It's not the voting that's democracy, it's the counting.” Tom Stoppard

Welcome to our blog!

 

Counting Counts is an academic blog run by the team of ‘Electoral System Change in Modern Democracies’. Our central objective is to offer accessible academic commentary and research on various topics related to the consequences of electoral system’s and their change as well as literature reviews on recent publications in the field. We are committed to communicate social science research and commentary in a manner that enhances public as well as scientific understanding and debate.

 

While this is primarily the blog of our project, we will at times invite various co-bloggers to contribute to our blog and are grateful for all the contributions we received so far and will receive in the future.

 


Latest Contributions


April 2018

 

Increases voter turnout with district magnitude?

 

Muraoka, T. and J. Barceló (2017) “The effect of district magnitude on turnout: Quasi-experimental evidence from nonpartisan elections under SNTV”, Party Politics.  DOI: 1354068817740337.

 

By Julian Noseck

 


March 2018

 

When Women Make A Difference. Gender Gaps in the European Parliament

 

Do female members of the European Parliament think and act differently from their male colleagues? The answer to this question is yes – and no. To learn more about this question, read the latest contribution to our blog!

 

By Lena Ramstetter


March 2018

 

Do parliaments underrepresent women's policy preferences?

 

Believe it or not - parliaments tend to represent women’s policy preferences concerning issues such as immigration, redistribution, or lifestyles slightly more accurately than those of men. For more insights read the summary of our recent publication.

 

By Sarah C. Dingler


February 2018

 

Still a glass ceiling? Tracing the limits to women’s representation in elected office.

 

Is gender equal representation in parliaments right around the corner? To find out, read this  brief summary of a new publication of two members of our project team, Corinna Kroeber and Jessica Fortin-Rittberger, together with Vanessa Marent and Christina Eder.

 

By Corinna Kroeber


January 2018

 

Increases voter turnout with district magnitude?

 

Arnesen, S. and Y. Peters (2017) “The Legitimacy of Representation: How Descriptive, Formal, and Responsiveness Representation Affect the Acceptability of Political Decisions”. Comparative Political Studies. DOI: 10.1177/0010414017720702.

 

By Julian Noseck


December 2017

 

Why, how and when do turnout rates decrease in new democracies? 

 

Kostelka, F. (2017) “Does Democratic Consolidation Lead to a Decline in Voter Turnout? Global Evidence Since 1939”, American Political Science Review 111 (4), 653-667. DOI: 10.1017/S0003055417000259.

 

By Julian Noseck


December 2017

 

How economic globalization affects satisfaction with democracy and preferences for direct democracy: Evidence from France

 

The authors show how economic integration weakens the foundations of democracy by affecting the type of policies implemented, the de-emphasis of economic issues in political competition, and (ultimately) the meaning and the value citizen attribute to representative institutions.

 

By Camille Bedock (Université Libre De Bruxelles), Cal Le Gall (Salzburg Center of European Union Studies and Sciences Po Grenoble), and Sophie Panel (Sciences Po Bordeaux)


October 2017

 

Austrian election: immigration issues, a “Kurz-effect” and House of Cards


Austria’s election is around the corner.  Here is some key information about what you need to know about Sunday’s election and insightful additional readings.

 

By Sarah C. Dingler and Corinna Kroeber


September 2017

Being a Female Candidate in the German Election 2017 – Some Good News and Some Bad News

 

The German general election on September 24th is coming up in just a couple of days. We ask: Are men more likely to receive the most desirable spots on party lists in the German general election 2017?

 

By Sarah C. Dingler


September 2017

The German federal election: the wisdom of predictive models

 

The German election 2017 - what can we learn from predicitve models?

 

By Julian Noseck


September 2017

Electoral rules affect campaigning strategies of large Spanish parties

 

Lago, I., Bermúdez, S., Guinjoan, M., Rowe, K., and Simón, P. (2017). Party Mobilization and Electoral Systems. In Government and Opposition. DOI: 10.1017/gov.2016.46.

 

By Sarah C. Dingler


August 2017

Does ticket splitting empower white, old, well-educated, rich men?

 

Exploring whether all citizens stand equal chances to split their ticket - evidence from Germany

 

By Corinna Kroeber


July 2017

Disentangling the effects of expected electoral success, list placement & vote share

 

Dettman, S, Pepinsky, T.B. and J.H. Pierskalla (2017) “Incumbency advantage and candidate characteristics in open-list proportional representation systems: Evidence from Indonesia”. In Electoral Studies 48. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2017.06.002

 

By Corinna Kroeber


July 2017

UK General Election 2017 - Really no hope for electoral reform?

 

Why the Conservatives might have an interst in electoral reform.

 

By Sarah C. Dingler


June 2017

Strategic voting depends on district competitiveness

 

Bochsler, D. (2017) “The strategic effect of the plurality vote at the district level”, Electoral Studies 47, 94-112 DOI: 10.1016/j.electstud.2016.11.019

 

By Julian Noseck


May 2017

Voter registration requirements affect tunrout and foster unequal participation

 

Braconnier, C, Dormagen, J. and V. Pons (2017): “Voter Registration Costs and Disenfranchisement: Experimental Evidence from France”, American Political Science Review. Online First DOI: 10.1017/S000305541700003X.

 

By Corinna Kroeber


May 2017

Is Germany the New Grand Coalition State?

 

The 2017 Land elections and the lessons for the upcoming federal election in September.

 

By Philipp Harfst


May 2017

A Labratory Experiment Analysing the Relationship Between District Magnitude and Voting Behaviour

 

Hix, S. Hortala-Vallve, R. and G. Riambau-Armet (2017): "The Effects of District Magnitude on Voting Behavior", The Journal of Politics 79 (1), 356-361. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/688889

 

By Sarah C. Dingler


April 2017

Immigrant Representation 

 

Conditions that enhance policy responsiveness towards minorities of immigrant origin

 

By Corinna Kroeber  


April 2017

Determinants of Party Polarization: The Impact of Electoral Systems and Income Inequality 

 

The electoral systems' intervening effect on the relationship between party polarization and income inequality.

 

By Sven Kosanke     


March 2017

Conditions Determining the Effective Number of Parties in Elections 

 

van de Wardt, M. (2017) “Explaining the effective number of parties: Beyond the standard model”, Electoral Studies 45. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2016.11.005 .

 

By Julian Noseck      


March 2017

'Speaking for the Women in my District' - Cultivating a Gendered Vote?

 

Electoral rules and their effect on the representation of women’s policy preferences

 

By Corinna Kroeber and Sarah C. Dingler


February 2017

Does Voter Volatility Affect Electoral Reform?

 

Núñez, L., Simón, P. and J.-B. Pilet (2017): "Electoral volatility and the dynamics of electoral reform. West European Politics, 40 (2). DOI: 10.1080/01402382.2016.1193800

 

By Sarah C. Dingler


February 2017

The Effects of Electoral Systems on Preference Representation

 

Stadelmann, D., Portmann, M. and R. Eichenberger (2016): "Perference Representation and the Influence of Political Parties in Majoritarian vs. Proportional Systems: An Empirical Test", British Journal of Political Science. Online First. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123416000399.

 

By Corinna Kroeber


January 2017

The Political Consequences of Changes in District Magnitude 

 

Summary of Philipp Harfst's recently published article analyzing the political consequences of changes in district magnintude.

 

By Philipp Harfst


December 2016

About High Turnout in the Low countries

 

Miller, P. and R. Dassonneville (2016): “High turnout in the Low Countries: Partisan effects of the abolition of compulsory voting in the Netherlands”, Electoral Studies 44. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2016.07.009

 

By Julian Noseck


November 2016

The Austrian Presidential Elections Part I:

Why Women Could Make a Difference?

 

A comment on why women might turn out to be decisive for the election results

 

By Vanessa Marent


November 2016

Exploring the Effects of Electoral Laws on Electoral Violence

 

Fjelde, H. and K. Höglund (2016): "Electoral Institutions and Electoral Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa". British Journal of Political Science 46(02): 297-320. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123414000179.    

 

By Lena Ramstetter


November 2016

Counting Counts- Also in the U.S. 

 

Our favorite contributions on how the electoral system shapes the US election.

 

By Corinna Kroeber and Sarah C. Dingler


October 2016

Does an electoral system's candidate-centeresness affect the diffusion of political responsibility?

 

Söderlund, P. (2016): “Candidate-centred electoral systems and change in incumbent vote share: A cross-national and longitudinal analysis”, European Journal of Political Research 55: 321–339

 

By Sarah C. Dingler


September 2016

Austrian Presidential Elections - Does Updating the Voter Register Make a Difference? 

 

A comment on the Austrian Parliament's decision to update the voter register for the presidential election re-run in December 2016.  

 

By Sarah C. Dingler