Europe-specific attitudes and turnout in European elections 1979-2009

This article analyzes whether Europe-specific attitudes can contribute to the explanation of non-voting (at the individual level) and the level of voter turnout (at the national level) in European elections. The results for all elections between 1979 and 2009 show that voters' level of dissatisfaction with their country's membership in the EU has a negative effect on turnout in European elections at the national level. Individual dissatisfaction with the EU also leads to a lower likelihood of voter turnout at the individual level. However, Europe-specific attitudes are just one explanatory factor among many. Classical determinants of voter turnout such as interest in politics or strength of party identification are clearly much stronger predictors of participation in European elections.