Enhancing voter attitudes and responses toward a greenspace ballot initiative through effective persuasive messaging

Abstract

Greenspace ballot initiatives (GBIs) are an essential mechanism for conservation finance, and effective voter outreach is crucial for their approval. This study investigates the impact of communication strategies on voter attitudes and responses, revealing that both celebrity endorsement and temporal framing are effective, but operate differently based on voter involvement levels. Our survey experiment showed that celebrity endorsement is particularly persuasive among low-involvement voters who may be less engaged with conservation issues, while temporal framing resonates more with highly involved voters. By illuminating these nuanced effects, our findings offer actionable insights for park and conservation managers, enabling them to tailor voter outreach campaigns that effectively engage diverse segments of the electorate and enhance support for GBIs.