Luís Aguiar?Conraria|Pedro C. Magalhães
Referendum design, quorum rules and turnout
University of Minho|University of Lisbon
article focus consequences quorum requirements turnout referendums use rational choice decision theoretic voting model demonstrate participation quorums change incentives electors face inducing oppose changes status quo expect minority abstain result paradoxically participation quorums decrease electoral participation test models predictions using data referendums held current european union countries 1970 2007 show existence participation quorums increases abstention ten percentage points