Różne wybory, różne elektoraty? Specyfika uczestnictwa w wyborach lokalnych
Different Elections – Different Electorates? Peculiarities of Participation in Local Elections

Summary/Abstract: This article analyzes the discrepancy between participation in local and general (parliamentary) elections in Poland. The data demonstrate that the local-national turnout gap in Poland is smaller than in other countries of the region. The voter turnout in Polish local elections decreases along with the increasing size of local communities (municipalities), while the voter turnout in parliamentary elections increases along with the increasing size of municipalities. The analyses of survey data, performed with the use of multi-level regression models, demonstrate that the similar socio-demographic characteristics determine electoral participation in both types of elections. Nonetheless, in local elections an independent explanatory role is played by the population size of the municipality. This finding confirms the “proximity hypothesis” claiming that the elections taking place in smaller political communities mobilize larger electorates, even if the typical individual determinants of participations are controlled. “Local voters” preferring to participate in local than national elections concentrate in smaller municipalities.

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