Vishal Vasan Srinivasan
Research Mentor(s): Kenneth Kollman
Mentor Department: Political Science & International Institute
Authors: Vishal Vasan Srinivasan, Kenneth Kollman, Julia Lippman
Session: Session 4 (1:00pm – 1:50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 34
Abstract
The study, as part of the Constituency-Level Elections Archive (CLEA), examines the impact of technological modernization on voting behavior in South Korean provinces over the period 2002-2017. It uses presidential election outcomes reported at the provincial level and measures them relative to levels of internet penetration to assess the impact of increasing digital access on voter turnout, political change, and voting behavior. The study is concerned with two areas of change: political change and the digital revolution. Findings suggest that provinces with high rates of growth in internet, i.e., Seoul and Incheon, have experienced rising turnout. While some provinces show a positive correlation between internet penetration and progressive vote shift, others exhibit ceiling effects and are influenced by additional regional and demographic factors influencing political shifts. This study shows a significant link between internet accessibility and political participation. The findings reveal that technological transformation may be a significant driver to democratic participation in Korean society. The findings of this study provide insight to the debate on the effects of digitalization on the electoral process and policy making within rapidly modernizing societies.
