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Polarization, abstention, and the median voter theorem

Political Science

Polarization, abstention, and the median voter theorem

M. I. Jones, A. D. Sirianni, et al.

Explore the intriguing findings of Jones, Sirianni, and Fu, as they challenge the traditional median voter theorem by introducing a new model that factors in voter abstention and third-party candidates. This groundbreaking research reveals how polarization may drive candidates away from the center, reshaping our understanding of voter behavior.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
The median voter theorem, a cornerstone of voter behavior models, posits that candidates converge towards the center to maximize votes. However, this model is challenged by increasing political polarization. This article introduces a model incorporating voter abstention, ideologically motivated third-party candidates, and bimodal voter ideology distributions. Under specific conditions, these factors can lead candidates to diverge from the center, potentially exceeding the electorate's polarization.
Publisher
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
Published On
Feb 02, 2022
Authors
Matthew I. Jones, Antonio D. Sirianni, Feng Fu
Tags
median voter theorem
voter behavior
political polarization
voter abstention
third-party candidates
bimodal ideology
election strategy

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