JESU LI BIRAČIMA VAŽNIJE STRANKE ILI KANDIDATI? UČINCI PREFERENCIJSKOG GLASOVANJA U HRVATSKOJ

The article analyzes the effects of preferential voting in Croatia in six electoral cycles in which until now preferential voting was applied. Author institutionally positions Croatian model of preferential voting among other European preferential systems. By usage of electoral lists as units of analysis, the analysis determines final effects on personal composition of the parliament, the level and way of how voters use their preferential votes, and direct and indirect effects of type of elections and variables of party supply. Findings show that, comparatively and dependent on institutional opportunities, the effects of preferential voting in Croatia are not small. While the usage of preferential voting is among the highest in comparison to other EU member states, the concentration of preferential votes on the first candidate on the list is also high. There are differences regarding the type of elections and the party supply. The party age and size as well as its left-right position affect some dimensions of voters’ behavior. The findings are important in the light of public requests for reform of preferential voting system in Croatia.