LOCAL ELECTIONS AND LOCAL-GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE

Over the past couple of decades, the level of turnout in Norwegian loc al elections has shown a steady decline. This decline is paralleled by a greater range of variation in turnout across Norwegian municipaliti es. Arguing from the perspective of rational utility-maximizing voters , the article examines to what extent such variations in the level of turnout may be accounted for by the policy performance of local author ities - in addition to certain structural features of the municipaliti es and local communities. Using aggregate data on turnout and measures of policy performance, the analysis testifies to the suggestion that policy exerts an influence in determining the level of turnout, indica ting a turn in the direction of more rational voting behaviour as far as local elections are concerned. It is also evident from the analysis that the appearance of smaller single-issue parties does have a mobil izing effect in local elections, while the Downsian suggestion about t he effect of party competition on turnout levels is not supported by t he results of the analysis.