Wybory niekonkurencyjne w Polsce – wyniki badań terenowych
Uncontested Seats in Poland: Results of a Field Research

Summary/Abstract: In democratic elections, it happens that a plebiscite is held as a result of the so-called uncontested election (i.e. elections in which the number of candidates is not greater than the number of seats). In this article, we present the results of field research on the phenomenon of uncontested seats of Polish mayors (village and city mayors). We triangulate the methods; data collected in the field undergoes qualitative analysis, after which we confront the conclusions with data from the National Electoral Commission and the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office of Poland. In the qualitative analysis, we use two-level variable coding and the inductive approach, while in the quantitative analysis, we use logistic regression and graphical methods (box-plots and maps). Our research shows that uncontested sets are conducive to a large margin of victory, first ballot, polity size (the number of inhabitants), and the inhabitants’ subjective satisfaction with the investments made by mayors.

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