Exclusive: Where parties fielded multiple candidates in last week’s vote, those at top of list were more likely to be picked

Fancy your chances in politics? Then perhaps you should change your name to Aaron Aaronson or Aaliyah Aardvark, figures from last week’s local elections in England suggest.

A Guardian analysis of election results compiled by the website Democracy Club points to a striking alphabet effect. In wards where a party fielded three candidates, those listed nearer the top of the ballot paper – with a surname nearer the start of the alphabet – finished ahead of their party colleagues in 2,200 cases, or 65% of the time.

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Source link www.theguardian.com
A recent analysis by The Guardian of England’s local election results reveals an “alphabet effect.” Candidates listed earlier on the ballot paper, particularly those with surnames starting with letters closer to the beginning of the alphabet, were significantly more successful. In cases where parties fielded three candidates, those at the top won 65% of the time. This suggests that a candidate’s placement on the ballot can greatly influence election outcomes, highlighting the importance of positioning in political contests.