Check out the full article: authors.elsevier.com/a/1mP2dxRaZr...

Key takeaway: Even at the municipal level, ideological party competition plays an important role in shaping voter choice.

We show that the importance voters assign to environment and safety is significantly associated with the emphasis those issues receive from the local party they support. However, no effect was found for the issue of education.

We find that the left-right position of voters is significantly related to the position of the local party they voted for: more right-wing voters vote for more right-wing parties.

We test proximity and issue salience voting in the 2012 & 2018 local elections in Flanders (Belgium). We link exit poll data with local party manifestos, focusing on left-right positions and the importance attached to environment, safety, and education.

Ideology is seen as a key driver of voting behaviour in national elections. However, what about the local level, where politics is frequently described as less ideological? In this paper we study whether voters' preferences align with the manifesto of the local party they support.

Thanks for all your wishes!!! 😊

Likewise, it was such a great pleasure to work with you @martingross.bsky.social You're one of the kindest and funniest people I know. Your support was indispensable!