Retrospective Voting
Definition
Retrospective voting is when voters base their decisions in an election on their perceptions of the past performance of a candidate or political party.
Analogy
Think of retrospective voting like grading a student's report card. You're looking at how well they've done in the past to decide if they should move up to the next grade level.
Related terms
Incumbent: The current holder of a political office. In retrospective voting, voters often evaluate the incumbent's performance.
Public Opinion: The collective attitudes and beliefs of individuals on significant issues. This can influence retrospective voting as voters assess whether a politician has acted according to these opinions.
Political Efficacy: A person’s belief that they can understand and influence political affairs. This self-confidence can shape how critically voters assess past performances in retrospective voting.
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