Le ragioni del ‘voto disonesto’ nelle elezioni parlamentari italiane del 2006

This paper investigates the individual-level determinants of the dishonest vote – that is, a vote cast in favour of a candidate perceived as dishonest by the voter himself – in the Italian parliamentary election of 2006. We show the preeminent role played by candidates’ personality assessments as compared to voters’ pre-existing orientations. The key determinant of the dishonest vote lies in fact in the perception of every candidate as dishonest and, more generally, in the belief that politicians are all the same. Also, we demonstrate that the probabilities of casting a dishonest vote are higher among voters characterized by a lack of interest in politics and a comparatively lower degree of civicness.