Abstract

PIGNATARO, Adrián. Time of Voting Decision in the Era of Dealignment: The Case of Costa Rica in 2014. Polít. gob [online]. 2017, vol.24, n.2, pp.409-434. ISSN 1665-2037.

The processes of electoral dealignment in consolidated democracies have been accompanied by an increase in the postponement of the vote. We analyze the case of Costa Rica in 2014, election characterized by high electoral volatility, erosion of partisan loyalties and low participation. Statistical models find that, unlike predicted by cultural theories of modernization, late voters -who decide their vote near the day of the election- are less informed and interested in politics; however, they are less identified with political parties, in line with expectations for dealignment theses. Therefore, it cannot be said that the postponement of the vote in Costa Rica is due to a greater sophistication of the electorate.

Keywords : time-of-voting decision; partisan dealignment; sophistication; electoral volatility; political behavior.

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