Do Televised Debates Affect Voting Behavior?

Abstract

Abstract Although televised debates between party leaders nowadays are a staple of German electoral campaigns, their behavioral effects are still unclear. Based on quasi-experimental data for the 2009, 2013, and 2017 German federal elections, the chapter demonstrates that debates had significant direct (i.e., through personal exposure) and indirect effects (i.e., through exposure to follow-up communication). Direct effects were most likely for politically low involved voters and predisposed voters who perceived that “their” candidate had lost the debate. Indirect effects affected politically unsophisticated voters and voters who were influenced by personal debate exposure. Debates and post-debate communication were particularly helpful for undecided voters whose shares dropped substantially. Debate exposure benefited the parties participating in a debate, whereas follow-up communication helped parties that were excluded from them.