Journal article
Race and democratic decline in the United States: How minority population growth affects election administration
Social science quarterly, Vol.105(2), pp.160-179
03/2024
DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.13344
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
Objectives
We ask whether counties with growing black and Latino populations have reduced the number of poll workers and polling sites. We argue that the association between changing racial demographics and election infrastructure has been exacerbated by the release of certain jurisdictions from the Voting Rights Act's (VRA) “preclearance” requirement under Section 5.
Methods
Relying on data from the 2016 and 2018 Election Administration and Voting Survey and demographic data from the American Community Survey, we conduct a multilevel linear regression on a sample of roughly 4000 counties.
Results
We find that counties respond to changes in the Latino population, though not changes in the black population, by reducing access to election resources. This relationship is especially pronounced in areas formerly covered by Section 5 of the VRA.
Conclusions
Given the importance of polling places and workers for in‐person voting, our findings raise serious concerns for racial equality in election access and influence.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Race and democratic decline in the United States: How minority population growth affects election administration
- Creators
- Joseph A. Coll - College of WoosterElizabeth Maltby - University of Nevada, Las VegasRene R. Rocha - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Social science quarterly, Vol.105(2), pp.160-179
- DOI
- 10.1111/ssqu.13344
- ISSN
- 0038-4941
- eISSN
- 1540-6237
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 20
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/2024
- Academic Unit
- Public Policy Center (Archive); Interdisciplinary Programs; Political Science
- Record Identifier
- 9984573141802771
Metrics
3 Record Views