Non-voting : disconnecting from partisan politics

Abstract

Through the issue of electoral abstention, this paper examines partisan disconnections arising from demobilization and dealignment trends in Malta: a country characterized by ‘near universal turnout’ and strong party loyalties. This socio-political understanding of turnout is examined within a triangular framework, addressing the macro-institutional and micro-individual dimensions of abstention. Apart from the wider socio-political and cultural milieu, several demographic, institutional, and psychological variables are related to turnout. A typology based on the regularity and rationale of abstention proposes four main types of non-voters: ideological, antagonistic, indifferent, and circumstantial. The typology further differentiates between passive and active non-voters and insiders and outsiders to the political system. Despite their vast heterogeneity, non-voters tend to be younger, better-educated, more liberal, and more supportive of left-wing ideology. Non-voting is largely typified by voluntary, strategic, and rational forms of political expression, arising from cognitive mobilization and political protest against present modes of governance. There are some signs that Maltese citizens are becoming more critical and distrustful of political parties and representative forms of democracy. This is also reflected in a more rational assessment of parties through increased floating and cross-party voting, as well as increases in non-electoral forms of political participation. These non-traditional patterns of behaviour present both evidence of partisan dealignment, as well underlying calls for political realignments.