TITLE:
Predictors of Electoral Participation among Spanish and Latin American Undergraduates
AUTHORS:
José Juan Vázquez, Sonia Panadero, Ana B. García-Varela
KEYWORDS:
Electoral Participation; Predictors; Latin-America; Spain
JOURNAL NAME:
Sociology Mind,
Vol.3 No.1,
January
23,
2013
ABSTRACT: This paper presents the results of a study of 709 undergraduates in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Chile, and Spain, countries with different developmental levels that held the first free elections following their respective dictatorships within a thirteen year span. The paper analyzes the electoral participation of undergraduates in relation to different factors. Results show a high electoral participation among Salvadoran, Nicaraguan, and Spanish undergraduates, while low turnout is observed among Chileans. The best predictors of electoral participation of undergraduates are related to their nationality, economic status, interest in politics, gender or living away from home.