Cash and ballots: Unearthing the nexus between conditional cash transfers (CCTS) and voter’s electoral behavior in Nigeria

Abstract

Conditional cash transfers (CCTs) have become one of the dominant strategies of governments in developing countries to deliver social safety nets for the poor. These programs generally aim to alleviate poverty both in the short and long term, the former through cash transfers and the latter through increasing investments in human capital. Apart from these primary aims, CCTs have also shown to influence political behavior of households. The study attempts to examine the impact of CCTs on voter’s electoral behavior in Nigeria. The rational choice theory of Anthony Downs was used as the theoretical underpinning of the study. Survey research design was adopted. Data was obtained through questionnaires while data analysis was done using descriptive statistics. Findings of the study revealed that CCTs influence political behavior of beneficiaries in the form of decision to vote; enrolment and turnout; voting preferences; incumbent party support; and satisfaction with public services among others.