Affiliations: [a] Social and Communication Studies, University of
Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 4BJ, UK. Web: http://www.lusoli.info;
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: There is growing interest worldwide concerning new communication
technologies and the electoral process. Studies of online elections have
yielded a sizeable body of knowledge on the strategies of electoral actors in
an increasing range of countries. Although in the US data are routinely
gathered regarding citizens' use of the Internet as a source of electoral
information, limited cross-sectional evidence originates from the EU. None of
this is comparative. Using data from Flash EuroBarometer 161, this article
examines European citizens' use of the Internet for electoral information
regarding the 2004 European Parliament election. Specifically, it discusses use
of the Internet for political information in relation to location,
technological development, traditional media, individual social position,
political attitudes and voting turnout in 25 countries. At micro, individual
level, a model is built that controls for traditional predictors of electoral
media consumption, such as age, gender, education, political interest, and
electoral connectedness and activity. At the macro, country level, the article
explores the import of the electoral system and rules, compulsory voting, GDP
per capita, levels of electoral engagement of traditional mediators
(governments, parties, press) and voting turnout on the use of the Internet for
electoral information. Overall, the article introduces original evidence and
analysis of the role of the Internet in European elections, and contributes to
the debate on the media and elections in a comparative perspective.
Keywords: Internet, elections, European Parliament, comparative research, EuroBarometer, media and elections
