The relationship between municipal services and voter behavior in Sanliurfa province

Local government services aresignificant factors that directly affect voters' daily lives and shape their political preferences. In this context, it is evaluated that voters' behavior cannot be explained solely by party policies or vote shares; the quality of services, accessibility, and citizens' perceptions also play a role in determining voting preferences. This study aims to analyze the voting behavior of voters residing in the central districts of Şanlıurfa Haliliye, Eyyübiye, and Karaköprü within the framework of municipal services provided by local governments. Şanlıurfa case is considered unique both theoretically and practically due to the high proportion of young population and the interweaving of traditional structures with urbanization, offering an opportunity to examine different dimensions of voters' behavior. Voters' electoral behavior was evaluated in relation to local services; it was noted that empirical studies examining the impact of citizens' perceptions of local services on voting behavior are limited in Turkey, where voters' behavior is mostly assessed through party vote shares and electoral success. The research is theoretically based on three main approaches explaining voters' behavior: the sociological approach focuses on the individual's social environment and identity structures; the socio-psychological approach emphasizes party identification and emotional attachments; and the rational choice model concentrates on decision-making processes aimed at maximizing individual benefits. Municipal services, especially within the scope of the rational choice model, are considered a fundamental factor shaping voters' preferences according to the perceived benefits. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys with 838 participants; following control questions and outlier analyses, 787 valid surveys were included in the evaluation. The data were analyzed using SPSS 27 and hypothesis testing and significance analyses among variables were conducted. The study identifies which municipal services have a greater impact on voters' behavior and examines whether there is a significant relationship between service quality and voting preferences, evaluating the reflection of service-based political practices in voters' perceptions. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive contribution to the literature by testing the applicability of theoretical approaches at the local level; the findings are expected to guide local governments in establishing more effective communication with voters and in shaping service priorities according to citizens' expectations. The study offers data that can enable local governments to develop a more participatory, transparent, and effective governance approach and provides contributions that strengthen the interaction between voters and local governments through the Şanlıurfa case, laying the groundwork for democratic participation-oriented practices.