Determinants of Voting Behaviour

Forthcoming in 2019 in: Muro, D., and I. Lago. (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Spanish Politics. Oxford University Press.

Co-authored with Marta Fraile

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the main correlates of voting behaviour in Spain. Through a review of existing studies we offer a first outline of the most relevant factors associated to Spaniards’ vote choices. Next, we present a comprehensive and up to date account of the importance of these correlates of voting behaviour drawing on the four available pre- post- electoral panel studies from the Spanish Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS). Through this data we analyse the association of these features with individuals’ vote choices in the 2000, 2008, 2011 and 2015 general elections. Findings illustrate the relevance and evolution of key factors related to the sociological, the social-psychological, and the performance-based models of voting behaviour in Spain.