Internet and Electoral Competition: The Case of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya

Abstract

This paper tests the equalization hypothesis at the vote level. A good
number of studies have examined whether the Internet is levelling the
playing fi eld in electoral competition by offering fringe parties opportunities
to increase their visibility. To test the infl uence of use of the Internet in vote
choice, we analyze the behaviour of ERC voters. Using survey data, we test
whether online exposure to political information affects vote choice among
these voters. We fi nd that online exposure to political information increases
the probability of voting for Solidaritat Catalana relatively to voting again for
ERC. The analysis provides empirical evidence to support the idea that the
Internet works as a differentiated media environment in which political
messages compete in more equal terms.