Ethnic heterogeneity and electoral turnout: Evidence from linking neighbourhood data with individual voter data

Issues related to migration and ethnic diversity have become more important over the last years both politically and scientifically. One important issue regards the effect of ethnic heterogeneity on electoral turnout. Thus far, empirical studies analysing this effect in Europe have relied on the sole use of aggregate level data. I tackle this research gap by linking contextual neighbourhood data with individual voter data collected by the German Longitudinal Election Study (GLES). Thus, this paper offers new insights into the role ethnic heterogeneity plays in political participation. Germany as an exemplary case has become of special interest regarding international migration after the steady increase of asylum seekers since 2013 and its consequent political reaction toward the influx of refugees. Results show that neighbourhoods that are ethnically more heterogeneous are significantly associated with lower individual electoral turnout, even when key variables influencing turnout at the individual level are held constant.