New research examines how close election outcomes affect the rate of invalid ballots. ⚠️ Using 7 years of Italian parliamentary election data (1994-2001), this paper analyzes hand-counted paper-ballots and their impact on electoral results.

📊 Key findings:

* A strong negative correlation exists between the closeness of an election race and the share of invalid ballots.

* Closer races feature significantly lower rates of rejected votes.

🧠 The explanation: This pattern is attributed to rational allocation of effort by election officials and party representatives. They anticipate potential invalid ballot challenges in close elections, leading them to process more carefully ⭐ not due to voter mistakes or fraud. Hand-counted paper-ballots allow this strategic adjustment.

🏛️ Real-World Significance: This discovery offers insights into electoral administration behaviors in contexts outside digital voting systems.