Voters don’t care too much about policy: How politicians conceive of voting motives

Politicians’ perceptions of how citizens decide which party to vote for matter they behave in between elections. Yet, except three older studies, a systematic assessment political actors today conceive citizens’ voting motives is non-existent. This study’s goal fill the empirical lacuna by asking large number Belgian Members Parliament what believe determines choice. It shows that few politicians do their democratic duty and because its policy profile. In politicians’ conception, voters hardly take into account party’s promises future nor past behavior when casting vote. Instead, most MPs are seduced individual candidates on list, campaign communications. These findings substantive representation.