Rebecca Morton,
New York University

Abstract

We present results from laboratory experimental elections in which candidates can choose to provide informative advertisements and voting is voluntary. We also compare advertisements that are costless to voters with those that reduce voter payoffs. We find that informative advertisements increase voter participation as predicted. However, the effect is much less than found in previous studies of the Swing Voterís Curse. Furthermore, we find that when advertising is costly to voters, informed voters are less likely to participate, are turned off rather than turned out. Finally, we discover that candidates tend to over advertise, and contrary to theoretical predictions, advertise significantly more when voting is voluntary than when it is compulsory.

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