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Strategic Voting in Plurality Elections: A Simulation of Duverger's Law

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2009

James W. Endersby  and
Kelly B. Shaw
James W. Endersby
Affiliation:
University of Missouri
Kelly B. Shaw
Affiliation:
Drake University
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Abstract

Experiments designed as an election simulation involve participants in an investigation of strategic voting. Participants assigned political preferences and informed of candidate/party positions on an ideological dimension respond to and learn the results of two public opinion polls before voting. When given two alternatives, the participants vote sincerely. Confronted with three or more alternatives, participants make tactical decisions to narrow the field. Strategic behavior quickly reduces the number of alternatives to two. Consistent with Duverger's law, candidate/party viability encourages strategic voting and the development of a two-party system. The election simulation serves as a useful tool to teach about electoral behavior and to explore topics such as strategic voting.

Type
The Teacher
Information
PS: Political Science & Politics , Volume 42 , Issue 2 , April 2009 , pp. 393 - 399
Copyright
Copyright © The American Political Science Association 2009

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