What are the Results of Longer Opening Hours of Polling Stations?

A new study by the ifo Institute examines the consequences of extended polling station opening hours on voter turnout and the share of votes political parties receive, based on a reform in Burgenland, Austria. The results show that by extending opening hours, turnout can at least be increased slightly. However, not all parties benefit from longer opening hours. Longer polling station opening hours mobilise social democratic, green and right-wing populist voters. Voters of conservative parties regard their right to vote as a "civic duty" and extended opening hours have no effect on them.