The Irish non-voter : evidence from the Irish National Election Study and Living in Ireland surveys

This paper analyses the determinants of voting abstention and voting intention
utilising data from the Irish National Election Study (INES) and the Living in Ireland survey. We find a marked age effect (younger people less likely to vote) that is similar in magnitude across both cross-sectional results obtained from the INES and panel results obtained from the Living in Ireland survey. Additionally, we find an inverse relationship between education and likelihood of abstention that is similar in
magnitude across the panel and cross-section. We find a number of social capital
variables to be negatively related to abstention. We also model the determinants of abstention including variables such as political interest; feelings of duty; confidence in the Dáil; and feelings of guilt surrounding non-voting. Inclusion of these variables renders many of the above social capital variables insignificant. However, the effect of age remains significant in all models.