Policy Research

The Role of Indifference in Split-Ticket Voting

Nicholas T. Davis

Summary

In this article, the author attempts to differentiate between ambivalent voters and indifferent voters, in how they engage in split ticket voting using ANES data from 1984 to 2004. The author differentiates ambivalent from indifferent voters; ambivalent voters may vote for GOP candidates while still feeling part of the Democrat team, while indifferent voters feel no particular way towards either party. He finds that while ambivalent voters are significantly more likely to split their ticket, they are highly variable over time, and as a result of over correcting for ambivalent voters, scholars have overlooked indifferent voters and their propensity for split ticket voting. Further, the author finds indifference to be a more statistically reliable indicator of ticket splitting, and as fundamentally different from ambivalence in voting practices. Finally, he finds that indifferent voters are dwindling over time, implying they too are feeling the same polarizing effect as political elites.

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Policy Implications

There are two main areas of policy implication: straight ticket voting, and campaign strategy. For policies that ban straight ticket voting, the ambivalent voter would be more affected, as partisan implications tend to impact their decisions, and a ban on straight ticket voting would increase ticket splitting on this group, while not affecting indifferent voters. In terms of campaign strategy, campaigns would be wise to target indifferent and ambivalent voters regardless of their party affiliation.