Jury service and electoral participation: A test of the participation hypothesis

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2008

Abstract

The participation hypothesis holds that when people undertake one civic activity, their likelihood of future political participation increases. Three original studies test this hypothesis by linking the nonvoluntary, institutionalized activity of jury deliberation with future electoral participation. First, 12 in-depth interviews with recent jurors demonstrate that people can conceptualize jury deliberation and voting as related responsibilities. Second, a national study of court and voting records demonstrates that criminal jury deliberation can significantly increase turnout rates among those who were previously infrequent voters. Third, a survey of jurors in a Northwestern county demonstrates that both the objective and subjective experience of jury deliberation influences future voting rates. © 2008 Southern Political Science Association.

Identifier

41549089214 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Journal of Politics

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022381608080353

e-ISSN

14682508

ISSN

00223816

First Page

351

Last Page

367

Issue

2

Volume

70

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS