A Passion for Voting

Abstract

We model expressive voting as a dynamic game with informed and ignorant voters. A voter has selective memory for actions and he is aware of it. We find the unique symmetric equilibrium with ignorant voting. Public signal in favor of one particular alternative creates the bandwagon and underdog effects. When the signal is suciently strong, the majority outcome is biased. This is a possible reason for persistence of public policies.

Keywords: expressive voting, self signaling, ignorant voting, habitual voting, bandwagon and underdog effects, information aggregation in elections, status quo bias

JEL Classification: D03, D71, D72, D82, D83, P16