The Decline of Participatory Democracy: Determinants of Voter Abstention in Peru’s Regional Elections (2014, 2018, and 2022)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22517/25392662.25677Keywords:
electoral abstention, regional elections, political participation, democratic perception, institutional distrustAbstract
Electoral abstention raises serious concerns about the health of democratic systems, as it reflects not only voter apathy but also deeper structural problems such as institutional distrust and the perception of corruption. This study analyzes the determinants of electoral abstention in Peru during the 2014, 2018, and 2022 elections. Variables considered include poverty, perceptions of regional and central government performance, corruption, the disappearance of winning political parties in the subsequent electoral cycle, and citizens’ perception that democracy does not protect their rights. Using the Generalized Panel Data Model (GDPM), the findings indicate that poverty, corruption, and institutional distrust are key factors affecting electoral participation. Furthermore, citizens’ perception that democracy fails to safeguard their rights, along with the disappearance of regional political parties, has exacerbated apathy and distrust toward the electoral process, thereby increasing abstention rates.
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