Who Does Early Voting Serve?: A Study of Voters in Korea’s 20th Presidential Election

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Abstract

The 20th presidential election has been described as a “election of the unfavorables” due to its extreme polarization. It has raised the question of whether early voting benefits certain voter groups more than others. This study confirms prior research on the mobilization and convenience effects of early voting using survey data from the 20th presidential election. It is also an exploratory study that examines how voters perceived and evaluated the limited early voting for those with COVID-19. We provide empirical findings for determining whether early voting in future elections will produce the expected outcomes, such as greater voter turnout and voter efficacy. Early voting had both a mobilization and a convenience effect in the 20th presidential election, getting absentees to the polls and providing an additional choice for willing voters, according to the results. Moreover, voters viewed early voting for those with COVID-19 as a government policy, not a general voting accommodation.

BibTeX citation

@article{ParkHur:2023,
    Author = {Sanghoon Park, and {Jaeyoung Hur}},
    Doi = {10.20973/jofp.2023.13.1.181},
    Journal = {JOURNAL OF FUTURE POLITICS},
    Number = {1},
    Pages = {181--211},
    Title = {Who Does Early Voting Serve?: A Study of Voters in Korea’s 20th Presidential Election},
    Volume = {13},
    Year = {2023}}