Content, strategies and slogans: voting factors in the Spanish referendum on the European Constitution.

Authors

  • JOAN FONT FÁBREGAS
  • ELISA RODRÍGUEZ ORTIZ

Keywords:

referendum, European Constitution, voting factors, second order.

Abstract

This article analyzes the factors explaining voting behaviour in the Spanish referendum on the EU Constitution. The three main hypotheses that appear in the comparative literature about referenda are tested: voting considering the contents of the Treaty, second-order voting and the use of heuristic short-cuts, like party cues. Results show that all three factors played a role. However, in a context of limited information about the contents, the power of party cues was especially crucial.

Published

2008-04-04