In this paper I investigate how the welfare state affects the individual decision to participate in an election. Drawing on insights from past studies of the effects of welfare policies on political participation as well as the deleterious impact of inequality on political engagement, I hypothesize that in countries where there is a strong welfare policy focus on working-age adults and families (that is, those policies that are both theoretically and empirically most closely linked to the reduction of economic inequality), greater electoral participation can also be found. Moreover, the mobilizing effect of the welfare state on voter turnout is thought to be greatest for individuals in the lower income quintiles. Why should we expect welfare state policies to matter for political participation? From a policy feedback perspective, we find that, for one, such policies confer people with material benefits, that is, greater resources that enhance their capacity for participation. Two, a strong commitment to working-age adults and families may send the message to citizens that their interests are protected and valued, thereby enhancing political efficacy and interest. To analyze the hypothesized relationship between the welfare state and voter turnout, I draw on individual-level survey data from the 2006 and 2008 rounds of the European Social Survey and macro-level data on disaggregated welfare state expenditures (OECD and Eurostat). I apply multi-level logistic regression to empirically test the effect of the welfare state context in 30 European states on individual decisions to participate in national elections. Additional models will test the marginal effects of welfare state spending on voting for different income groups.
