Party Appeal, Asymmetric Elite Polarization, and Voter Turnout

Abstract

This paper studies a root of asymmetric party polarization, where one party becomes more ideologically extreme and the other remains relatively moderate. In a modified two-party Hotelling-Downs model with heterogeneous electorates—which differ in incentives to vote —we show that when one party experiences a disproportionate decline in public appeal, the resulting equilibrium features asymmetric polarization and higher voter turnout, in line with recent elections.