Turnout in the EP Elections 2014: A comparative study of the EU Member States

Abstract:

Direct elections to the European Parliament started in 1979. However, participation in these elections has always been significantly lower than participation in national elections.

This report investigates the turnout in the 2014 elections to the European Parliament. It pays particular attention to the electoral promotion activities conducted by the European Parliament Information Offices (EPIOs) as well as the constitutional innovation with the so called Spitzenkandidaten. The authors evaluate whether the promotional activities and the Spitzenkandidaten scheme contributed to a higher voting turnout.