Les élections partielles au Québec

Abstract

Les élections partielles ont-elles les mêmes caractéristiques et suivent-elles les mêmes tendances que les élections générales ? Nous proposons une analyse du taux de participation et de la performance des petits partis lors des élections partielles québécoises depuis 1970. Nous examinons également la performance des députés élus lors de partielles aux élections générales subséquentes. Finalement, nous vérifions si les élections complémentaires constituent, comme plusieurs le pensent, des référendums sur le gouvernement. En bref, nous tentons de déterminer les dynamiques électorales propres aux élections partielles ainsi que leur importance dans la vie politique québécoise.

Special elections in alternative vote electoral systems: Exploring turnout and the vote in Irish by-elections 1923–2019

“…What can be explored is what conditions are associated with aggregate-level turnout in special elections moving up or down. Two studies in Canada (Blais-Lacombe and Bodet, 2017;Loewen and Bastien, 2010) found turnout in special elections mirrored patterns associated with turnout in general elections, with the characteristics of the special election in question having less impact. This article follows suit by testing if turnout in Irish by-elections mirrors general patterns of turnout in general elections or if the contextual circumstances of the by-election itself have a stronger association.…”

“…In essence, the referendum model challenges the premise by-elections are merely local contests and assumes they can be viewed through a national prism, with voters using them to send a message to the government. The referendum model has received strong support in accounting for special election outcomes in Britain (Mughan, 1986(Mughan, , 1988Norris, 1990), Canada (Blais-Lacombe and Bodet, 2017;Loewen and Bastien, 2010), the United States (Gibbs et al, 2016;Sigelman, 1981) and in cross-national studies (Anderson and Ward, 1996;Feigart and Norris, 1990).…”

“…That is not to say they have been ignored. Research has emerged on special elections in Canada (Blais-Lacombe and Bodet, 2017;Loewen and Bastien, 2010), New Zealand (Boston, 1980), the United States (Gaddie et al, 1999;Gibbs et al, 2016;Sigelman, 1981;Smith and Brunell, 2010) and Britain (Butler, 1949;Cook and Ramsden, 1997;King, 1968;Mughan, 1986Mughan, , 1988Norris, 1990). Comparative studies, while scarcer, also exist (Anderson and Ward, 1996;Feigart and Norris, 1990;Norris and Feigart, 1989;Studlar and Sigelman, 1987).…”

“…The impact of candidates, prominent in the Irish voting calculus (Marsh, 2007;Marsh et al, 2008), has been largely overlooked (an exception is the descriptive work of Norris, 1990). While beyond two Canadian studies (Blais-Lacombe and Bodet, 2017;Loewen and Bastien, 2010), turnout has received little attention. This contribution addresses these gaps.…”

By-Elections in Québec: Signs of Discord, Dissatisfaction, or Simple Dialogue?

“…By-elections, or the process of filling a legislative seat between general elections, are a regular aspect of many parliamentary systems throughout the world. Despite this regularity, by-elections are significantly understudied compared to other electoral processes (Mughan 1986;Feigert and Norris 1990;Loewen and Bastien 2010;Blais-Lacombe and Bodet 2017). By-elections in Canada are particularly an understudied phenomenon (Kay 1981;Massicotte 1981;Feigert and Norris 1990;Loewen and Bastien 2010;Blais-Lacombe and Bodet 2017).…”