In-party like, out-party dislike and propensity to vote in Spain

Abstract

[EN] Do affectively polarised people vote or stay home on election day? Although there is an increasing number of comparative studies focusing on the origins of partisan affective polarisation, our knowledge about its impact on individuals’ decision to vote is still limited. This article takes a closer look at the relationship between propensity to vote and partisan affective polarisation by distinguishing those produced by in-party like and by out-party dislike. The results show that both in-group like and out-group hate sentiments increase people’s propensity to vote, and that the effects of the latter are more accentuated. The argument presented in the following pages is based on the analysis of a two-wave panel study conducted in Spain between April and May 2019.