Determinant Factors of Voting Participation in Central and Eastern Europe

An Analysis of Individual-level Data

Abstract

This research analyzes micro-level determinant factors for individuals’ voting participation in ten postcommunist Central and Eastern European countries. While studies have demonstrated the impact of macrolevel institutional and socioeconomic factors on voter turnout in these countries, investigation into the impact of individual-level factors is ongoing. This paper uses the European Social Survey, while taking into account the contextual background of these post-communist European countries. It finds that three factors have a statistically significant effect on voting participation common to all ten countries. Respondents with a sense of trust in their parliament, a high educational level, and seniority were more likely to engage in voting. The findings suggest that the very low turnouts in post-communist Europe may be a reflection of individuals' lack of trust in their parliaments.