Do we always cast our votes with accurate information? The mediating role of misperception in the relationship between partisan media use and retrospective voting

Abstract

Most current studies on political participation have focused on political behaviors per se, rather than the criteria guiding voters. The critical consideration of whether voters cast their votes with accurate information is often overlooked but is important because a healthy and robust democracy relies on political participation informed by accurate information. This study delves into the relationships between partisan media use, misperceptions, and retrospective voting, focusing particularly on the potential pathway to retrospective voting via misperceptions. Analyzes are based on survey data collected during the 2022 Korean presidential election. The results indicate that using partisan media was associated with misperceptions aligning with the respective media's viewpoints. Notably, these misperceptions emerge as a key determinant for retrospective voting. The findings underscore the importance of considering misperceptions as a pivotal criterion for retrospective voting. Implications are discussed.