Replication Data for: Choice and Choice Set in African Elections

Studies of voting behavior usually start with voters, theorizing how voter psychology or preferences shape choice. But what if choice sets pre-determine choice? This paper argues for a reorientation of how we think about voting behavior, from an exclusive focus on micro-foundations to one acknowledging structure. It does so through the lens of African co-ethnic voting. Using datasets matching vote choice with candidate characteristics in Kenyan, Ghanaian, and Ugandan legislative elections, it shows that around two-thirds of voters in these elections saw ballots with either all co-ethnics or no co-ethnics at all. Their decision to vote co-ethnically (or not) was thus made for these voters long before they set foot in polling stations. Shifting from choice to choice set crystalizes the meeting point of structure and agency, inducing us to theorize factors shaping behavior beyond voters themselves: candidate entry decisions, constituency boundaries, and the geographic distribution of populations.