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The Effect of Municipality Size and Local Office on the Electoral Success of Belgian/Flemish Election Candidates: A Multilevel Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2014

Gert-Jan Put  and
Bart Maddens
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Abstract

This article examines the effect that municipality size and local office have on election candidates’ results. We argue that candidates from the larger municipalities have comparatively larger relevant networks, both in terms of constituents and party grassroots volunteers. In addition, these candidates appeal to a relatively larger share of voters within the constituency. We expect that the relative size of the candidates’ municipality will have a positive effect on the relative number of preferential votes they receive in the constituency and will interact with the effect that holding local office has on the individual election result. While the empirical analysis does not show support for the idea that municipality size will have a significant effect, the expected interaction between local office and municipality size is confirmed. The electoral advantage of being mayor, alderman or local councillor seems to increase with the relative size of the municipality in the district.

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Articles
Information
Government and Opposition , Volume 50 , Issue 4 , October 2015 , pp. 607 - 628
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s). Published by Government and Opposition Limited and Cambridge University Press 2014 

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Footnotes

*

Gert-Jan Put is a Research Fellow in the Public Governance Institute at the University of Leuven. Contact email: [email protected].

Bart Maddens is Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Leuven. Contact email: [email protected].

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