Political scandals are a common feature of the contemporary world, and their consequences can range from short-lived to lasting and profound. They are usually the result of politicians violating values and norms that society as a whole holds to be important, such as honesty or integrity. The most famous example is Watergate, which forced Richard Nixon to resign in the early 1970s. Often, they involve scandalous behavior such as bribery, greed, mendacity or obfuscation, obsession or moral bankruptcy, misplaced loyalty or trust, and lapses of good judgment. Typically, these scandals are revealed by investigative journalists and are characterized by a sense of outrage among the public and in the media.

Several researchers have investigated the impact of scandals on voting decisions, with conflicting results. Most of the research is based on cross-sectional data, but there is also some longitudinal and case study research. In general, scholars have found that scandals have a positive effect on voter turnout, though the size of this effect depends on the type of scandal and several moderators, including candidate characteristics and behaviors, context, and scandal type. Moreover, the impact of scandals may vary between small and large municipalities, where voters can better monitor politician performance.

A central problem is that observers relying on media coverage misattribute the incidence of scandals to their depiction by journalists. This leads to erroneous conclusions about the prevalence of scandals or corruption incidents. Furthermore, voters may conflate grievances and scandals, leading to biased balances of the costs and benefits of scandals. Finally, journalists’ opinions and editorial line influence the slant of their reporting on scandalous events.