Internet Access and Electoral Participation in Colombia: Voter Apathy at the Polls.

41 Pages Posted: 4 Mar 2021

See all articles by Sergio Perilla

Sergio Perilla

Universidad del Rosario, Economics Department; Inter-American Development Bank

Date Written: October 27, 2019

Abstract

This paper studies the effect of expanding internet access on electoral outcomes at the municipality level in Colombia. I use a difference-in-differences strategy that compares electoral outcomes in municipalities that received the internet right before the presidential election, with those that received it afterwards. I find that internet access reduced political participation at the polls. This behavior is reflected in a decrease in voter turnout, a decrease in the number of votes for candidates and an increase in blank votes. This apathetic behavior was motivated by the lack of trust in the government institutions, and the low enforcement in policies against corruption from the politicians.

Keywords: internet-access, turnout, elections

JEL Classification: D72, L82, L86, N46, N76

Suggested Citation

Perilla, Sergio, Internet Access and Electoral Participation in Colombia: Voter Apathy at the Polls. (October 27, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3759775 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3759775

Sergio Perilla (Contact Author)

Universidad del Rosario, Economics Department ( email )

Casa Pedro Fermín
Calle 14 # 4-69
Bogota
Colombia

Inter-American Development Bank ( email )

1300 New York Ave NW
Washington, DC 20577
United States

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