How your partner affects your likelihood to vote

Previous research has indicated that those with partners are more likely to vote than those who are single. Drawing on a new study, Stijn Daenekindt, Willem de Koster and Jeroen van der Waal write that the impact of partners on voting is more complex than has previously been assumed. They explain that while partners can motivate each other to participate in elections, they can also suppress each other’s levels of political participation in certain circumstances. This is particularly apparent in relationships where there is a disparity in education levels as this can have a negative effect on the lower-educated partner’s perception of political competence.