Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Tyler Sharon and I am from Tampa, Florida. My research interests include anything within the political science and finance realm, as I love to learn and research different topics in business and politics. I am majoring in finance, and I hope to either go to law school or pursue a high-finance career.

Ballot Positions, Contest Differences and Ballot Roll-Off: An Analysis of Voter Participation

Abstract

Voter participation is a cornerstone of democratic systems, yet in many elections, a significant number of eligible voters fail to fill out their ballots. A factor that is contributing to lower voter turnout is voter fatigue, a phenomenon where voters experience diminished interest or energy in completing the ballot. Voter fatigue can manifest in various forms, such as skipping down-ballot races or disengaging from the voting process altogether. In this project we are examining how ballot order, specifically the arrangement of candidates and races on the ballot, influences voter participation and how they decide to fill out their ballots.

Keywords: political science, election, voting, voter behavior, ballot order