How Do Voters Perceive Disabled Candidates?

In order to form an impression of the traits, views, and competencies election candidates, voters often draw on existing stereotypes about their identities characteristics, such as gender or ethnicity. Meanwhile, although there is a strong stigma associated with disability in our societies, we know very little how perceive candidates disabilities. This study uses survey experiment conjoint design conducted Britain examine effects candidate voter perceptions personality beliefs, issue competencies. Contrary common stereotypes, physically disabled are not seen incompetent weak. Instead, they perceived more compassionate, honest, hard-working than nondisabled modest size. They also assumed be further left ideologically concerned competent dealing policy healthcare, minority rights, social welfare. The enriches understanding role electoral behavior political representation while providing valuable—and overall encouraging—insights for (aspiring) politicians parties.