“…Our account of patience as a political virtue contributes to the abundant literature that has sought to explain why citizens turn out to vote and participate in other activities (Campbell, Converse, Miller, & Stokes, 1960;Rosenstone & Hansen, 1993;Verba, Schlozman, & Brady, 1995;Wolfinger & Rosenstone, 1980). Several empirical studies suggest that voter turnout is influenced by the costs of processing information and going to the polls, and the policy benefits associated with the outcome of the election (Franklin & Grier, 1997;Hansen, Palfrey, & Rosenthal, 1987;Highton, 1997;Jackson, 2000;Kaempfer & Lowenberg, 1993;Knack 1997Knack , 2001Nagler, 1991). However, none of these studies considers the fact that the costs and benefits of turning out to vote are borne at different times.…”