By Samantha Ponder

 

Recently, Comparative Political Studies (CPS), a highly recognized political science journal, published an article titled “Addressing the Gender Gap: The Effect of Compulsory Voting on Women's Electoral Engagement.”

 

The article was written by two University of Kentucky affiliates in the Department of Political Science of the College of Arts and Sciences, Assistant Professor Abby Córdova and co-author Gabriela Rangel, a UK fourth-year doctoral student and teaching assistant.

 

CPS is known for publishing the most up-to-date information on methodology, theory and research in comparative politics. The esteemed journal is a forum for students and scholars of comparative politics to exchange ideas. CPS-published articles usually discuss the innovative work being done on comparative methodology, theory and research from around the world.

 

In "Addressing the Gender Gap," the authors hypothesize that mandatory voting laws will help narrow the gender gap by creating opportunities and motivations for women to engage in the electoral process.

 

The authors use strong cross-national survey data to support their hypotheses. The research they have collected shows that countries with mandatory voting laws show a much smaller gender gap not only in voting but in other forms of electoral engagement, such as political party information.

 

 

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