Social Pressure, Network Topology, and the Persistence of the Voting Norm
Social Pressure, Network Topology, and the Persistence of the Voting Norm

Summary/Abstract: This study presents the results of an agent-based simulation of the effects of social pressure and network topology on the persistence of the voting norm. It aims to examine how variations in network topology and the degree of reduction of social influence shape the persistence of intended turnout. The decision rule for an agent/voter is an extended calculus of voting by Riker and Ordeshook, considering social pressure and the mechanism of internalisation of the sense of civic duty. The model includes networks generated using the Watts-Strogatz algorithm, which differ in rewiring probability. The model assumes two phases of voting norm spreading: a mobilisation phase (full social pressure), in which intended turnout increases, and a reduction phase (pressure fully or partially suppressed), in which turnout decreases and then stabilises at a level appropriate to the network. In the mobilisation phase, differences in intended turnout between the studied networks mainly depend on the structure of connections between individuals, and in the reduction phase, on the degree of suppression of social pressure. Even a small social influence can lead to a dynamic increase in intended turnout and maintain it at a relatively high level if the network is highly clustered and contains few random edges.

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