Electoral Results: Can Entropy be a Measure of the Population Dissatisfaction?

Abstract

This paper intends to explore the utilization of entropy through politics and election results, a slightly explored area. It generalizes the interpretation of entropy, considering it a measure of dissatisfaction and disillusion of populations in what concerns to politics. We can detect and analyze some phenomena, such as the increase of abstention in a country, a consequence of the dissatisfaction of the population and their alienation related to politics. New political parties can emerge due to the discontentment of the populations, leading to a larger division of votes and to the increase of the entropy (as a result of the discontentment and uncertainty of the electors). Absolute majorities imply less dispersion of votes and are a synonym of a higher confidence in a particular party, reducing entropy. Electoral results can also be influenced by particular phenomena, such as the terrorist attacks on the eve of the two last elections in Spain. These attacks had a great influence on the affluence to the polls, as well as on the levels of entropy.