In scientific literature, three claims are made about the potential impacts of low voter turnout on party competition. Some authors contend that, because of increased socioeconomic bias, low voting rates tend to penalize left-wing parties. Others argue that it is not the case since left-wing parties adapt their ideological appeals to the preferences of the reduced pool of voters. Finally, the third view posits that there is practically no impact at all as ideological differences between voters and non-voters are usually negligible. The present paper tests these claims on Central and Eastern Europe which, as a region, has experienced the most spectacular decline of electoral participation in the post-World World II democratic history. The empirical section combines electoral results, party positions and individual survey data.
