Publication Type: Proceeding
Abstract: Asian Americans and Latinos are currently the fastest growing racial minority groups in the United States. Much of their population growth results from immigration. Thus, Asian American and Latino political incorporation faces additional challenges to White or African American political incorporation and involves, for many, ensuring the transition from non-U.S. citizen to U.S. citizen and, then, to voter. This paper explores the effect of immigration on the Asian American and Latino political behavior. Applying DeSipio’s (1996) model of new electorates, we disaggregate each population into four categories: non-naturalized immigrant adults, citizen adults not registered to vote, registered voter adults who did not vote, and voters. Using Current Population Survey (CPS) data from 2000 and 2004, we identify and compare the factors that differentiate the three non-voting categories from those who voted in each community. We find that Asian American and Latino political incorporation cannot be predicted solely on the basis of individual socioeconomic factors and that the factors that predict naturalization are, in some ways, distinct from those that predict voting. A more rigorous model of Asian American and Latino political incorporation must also account for influences related to immigration, state-level social context, and political institutions.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: I analyze the effects of state voter ID laws on voter turnout from 2000-2008 using aggregate state-level data. I also analyze the effects of voter ID laws on self-reported voter turnout using the 2000-2006 CPS. Finally, I examine the effects of state voter ID laws on 'self-reported voting irregularities" using several different national surveys. Unllike previous work, i examine the within state effects of voter ID laws; further, I exploit the existence of differential ID requirements on first-time voters to help identify these within state effects.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Drawing from official lists of registered voters for 14 major counties in seven swing states (including Florida) from the 2000 presidential election, we seek a more accurate neighborhood-by-neighborhood picture of how the participation of commonly targeted subgroups varies. Our goals here are at once both theoretical and practical. On the theoretical side, we want to evaluate what these voter lists can teach us about political participation, above and beyond the established literature’s take on the effects of context on the decision to vote. Our findings bear most directly on the utility of the interaction of neighborhood characteristics and a number of predictable correlates of turnout. On the practical side, we demonstrate how strategists can use voter lists in conjunction with a Geographic Information System (GIS) and Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling (HGLM) to make useful predictions about political behavior, thereby greatly enhancing the utility of this resource to political campaigns.

Publication Type: Proceeding

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed