Selling their vote expensively: The effects of information, apathy and age

People’s attitudes towards vote buying have often been studied through the lenses of its acceptability as a norm in society or the drivers behind the decision to accept money if offered. However, we know little about the financial value that voters attach to their vote. To fill this gap in the literature, this research note analyzes what makes people accept different sums of money in exchange for their votes. It uses a survey conducted in Romania after the 2020 legislative elections and shows that most respondents reject any sum of money. Among those willing to accept money, the voters who have limited information, who rarely participate politically and those who are young are inclined to ask higher sums for their vote. Partisanship has mild effects, but poverty and trust in parties do not make a difference.