Electoral geographical approaches in Hungary Mátyás Bódi Ferenc Bódi Where are the voters?! - Low voting turnouts in Hungary -

Electoral Geography in Hungary Political geography as a unrecognised discipline during the socialist era (1949 – 1989) New research topic (1990- ) Spatial dimensions were rarely examined (lack of geographical approaches) Retrospective works Regional political differences (regional political geography?) – political parties and voting turnout

Electoral Geography in Hungary Historical and cultural determinism (László Hubai) XXth century electoral atlas of Hungary;

Electoral Geography in Hungary The role of historical factors are still controversial… „The changing result of the European and Hungarian parliamentary elections shows that there is no strong and direct relation between the spatial result of the past and the future elections.” (Zoltán Hajdú; ) Parallels between the spatial pattern of voting results and certain socio-economical indicator are under discussion (net income, level of urbanization and education, etc.) BUT The outcomes have been changing since 1990 year by year in term of turnout and spatial variations of support for particular policies, but some constant and stable phenomena can be recognize! 1; A 20. századi magyar parlamenti választások választási földrajzi kérdései, Múltunk, 2006/I old. Budapest.

Election in Hungary since 1990 General Statements Relatively low turnout at every poll Higher turnout at parliamentary elections; parliamentary64,9968,9256,2670,5367,8364,36 local governmental45,9543,4445,6651,1153,1147,12 There was no parliamentary elections with lower turnout as any local one! There is no continous trends, rising or falling degree of participation at the sequeantially years.

Election in Hungary since 1990 General Statements BUDAPEST71,1174,2563,6377,5274,5569,74 COUNTY CITIES67,5471,1159,1873,470,1465,61 REST OF CITIES63,6368,6654,6369,366,8263,37 Cities pop.> inhab. 63,9269,0755,3670,3167,7764,19 Cities pop.< inhab. 61,5466,6551,8466,2164,1161,36 TOWNS61,5565,2252,0566,2864,1161,71 Towns pop.> inhab. 60,9967,5156,7467,2671,4569,38 Towns pop inhab59,3963,3749,4265,1963,3361,92 Towns pop inhab60,864,5150,8265,3863,2560,79 Towns pop inhab65,3167,7755,668,2365,5362,03 Towns pop < 500 inhab70,471,961,7671,8967,7364,14 HUNGARY64,9968,9256,2670,5367,8364,36

Election in Hungary since 1990 General Statements BUDAPEST42,1339,3343,6952,6855,8943,59 COUNTY CITIES33,7631,2337,6444,8748,7637,87 REST OF CITIES44,0139,5841,9247,4449,8444,07 Cities pop.> inhab. 36,3238,1140,8646,549,5242,37 Cities pop.< inhab. 50,3246,4145,9750,350,6248,30 TOWNS59,3454,6153,7956,9257,3456,06 Towns pop.> inhab. 36,7638,9340,0643,2452,3342,92 Towns pop inhab49,7647,1746,2649,7850,6448,76 Towns pop inhab58,5556,1454,7457,1356,7256,09 Towns pop inhab67,4364,1763,0464,9964,3862,66 Towns pop < 500 inhab76,2271,5170,5973,0471,5470,83 HUNGARY45,9543,4445,6651,1153,1147,12

Election in Hungary since 1990 General Statements