Do candidates’ characteristics determine their preferential vote?

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether candidates characteristics explain variations in the number of preferential votes gained by them. Preferential voting is one of the signs of the personalization process in different cases (McAllister, 2007; Karvonen, 2010). Voters choose candidates for different reasons (Karvonen, 2004; Marsh, 2007; Van Holsteyn & Andeweg, 2010). This is mainly the demand side. In this paper, we want to examine the “supply side”. Studies on electoral systems and party characteristics have shown effects on the number preferential vote for candidates (Carey&Shugart, 1995, 2005). Elected candidates’ characteristics (such as PVEA) have also effects on preferential voting (Shugart&al., 2005). But the research did not pay enough attention to other candidates – those who were not elected – and their characteristics. Using the 2014 Belgian Candidate Survey, we want to examine whether the candidates’ characteristics have an effect on preferential vote. In addition, we intend to check whether there are differences between elections (regional versus federal) and between regions (Flanders versus Wallonia versus Brussels).