Strategic voting

Definition

Strategic voting occurs when a voter selects a candidate not solely based on their first choice but instead to prevent an undesirable outcome, often in elections where multiple candidates are running. This behavior can arise when voters perceive that their preferred candidate has little chance of winning, leading them to support a more viable candidate who aligns more closely with their values than the least favorable option.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Strategic voting is often most prevalent in elections with more than two candidates where voters feel their top choice is unlikely to win.
2. Voters may choose to back a front-runner instead of their preferred candidate to avoid 'wasting' their vote, especially if they believe the preferred candidate cannot achieve significant support.
3. This type of voting can lead to outcomes that do not reflect the true preferences of the electorate, as it may distort the actual support for various candidates.
4. Strategic voting can influence party platforms, as parties may adjust their policies to appeal to voters who might otherwise vote strategically against them.
5. Political polls can sometimes exacerbate strategic voting, as perceived frontrunners gain momentum, leading voters to shift their support away from candidates they favor but believe are less viable.

Review Questions

• How does strategic voting impact the behavior of voters in multi-candidate elections?
  • In multi-candidate elections, strategic voting significantly alters how individuals make their choices. Voters may abandon their preferred candidates if they perceive them as unlikely to win, opting instead for more viable alternatives. This can lead to unexpected electoral outcomes and prevents certain candidates from receiving the true level of support they might have otherwise garnered.
• Discuss how Duverger's Law relates to strategic voting and its effects on electoral outcomes.
  • Duverger's Law suggests that single-member district electoral systems favor a two-party framework, which encourages strategic voting among voters. When faced with a choice between two major parties, individuals may feel compelled to vote for one of them rather than risk supporting a third-party candidate who lacks significant chances of winning. This dynamic can result in reinforcing the dominance of the major parties and marginalizing alternative voices within the political landscape.
• Evaluate the broader implications of strategic voting on democratic representation and electoral integrity.
  • Strategic voting raises significant concerns about democratic representation because it often leads to a distortion of voter preferences. When citizens vote strategically rather than according to their genuine first choice, it can result in elected officials who do not reflect the true desires of the electorate. This undermines electoral integrity by fostering a system where the outcomes may favor candidates who are merely perceived as viable rather than those genuinely supported by the public, ultimately diminishing trust in democratic processes.

Related terms

Duverger's Law: A principle stating that single-member district electoral systems tend to favor a two-party system, often influencing voters to engage in strategic voting to avoid 'wasting' their vote.

Vote Splitting: A phenomenon where two or more candidates divide the votes from a similar voter base, which can lead to an unexpected candidate winning due to a lack of consolidated support.

Condorcet Winner: A candidate who would win a head-to-head election against each of the other candidates; strategic voting can prevent this candidate from winning in multi-candidate races.