Where do voters appear at ballots? Factors influencing the geographical distribution of voter turnout in Slovak parliamentary elections

Electoral results are significantly influenced by voter turnout, and the explanation of differences in turnout has received considerable academic attention. However, a systematic investigation of the geography of voter turnout in Slovakia has not been conducted yet. The objective of the study is, first, to present a map of voter turnout in parliamentary elections in Slovakia and the changes it has undergone since 1998, and, second, to identify social factors which can potentially explain geographical variability visible on the map. The particular objective was to test the predictive ability of five voter turnout theories in the conditions of Slovak society. The empirical analysis was based on multiple regression analysis and additional statistical analyses. The results have shown a deepening of geographical differences in turnout with time, and a transition of interpretative frameworks, from the theory of disenchantment, relevant in the 1990s, to theories of modernization and socioeconomic status, more relevant in the 2010s. At the same time, the effect of indirect mobilization and habitual voting was proved significant throughout the whole period of 1998 to 2016.