Why the article is helpful
- Evidence of name-order effects in balloting
- Candidates received a greater proportion of the vote when listed first than when listed in any other position
Evidence was presented to support name-order effects in voting from a study of the 1998 Democratic primary in New York City. Each precinct rotated the position of the candidate names, showing that position of name on ballot does influence voting preference – the first name listed is statistically chosen more frequently. The authors found compelling evidence that ballot position affects candidates’ vote tallies.
Links to article
Koppell, J. G. S. & Steen, J. A. (2004). The effects of ballot position on election outcomes. The Journal of Politics, 66(1), 267-281. doi:10.1046/j.1468-2508.2004.00151.x