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Election symbols and vote choice: evidence from India
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 January 2024
Abstract
A large literature has shown that ballot order and ballot structure can influence vote choice. We focus on another behavioral cue for voting, the symbols that are assigned to candidates in many democracies. We take advantage of a naturally occurring experiment in India, where independent candidates can choose from a list of free symbols and conflicting choices are resolved by a drawing of lots. We find that winning the draw has a substantial positive effect on vote share. We also find some evidence that candidates attempt to choose their symbols strategically, for instance choosing household goods common in their constituencies.
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- Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of EPS Academic Ltd