Asian-Americans, Political Organizations, and Participation in Chicago Electoral Precincts

Abstract

Precinct-level data for voter registration and turnout in Chicago elections are used to assess the impact of the Asian population and party organization on political participation during the 1990s. Controlling for the effects of newer immigration, mobility, and socioeconomic status, the authors learn that larger Asian-American populations are associated with higher voter registration. Voter turnout is negatively affected in areas of higher Asian populations but attenuates when independent precincts are examined separately from machine-style precincts. This suggests that registration may be encouraged in Asian areas, but voting appears to be negatively affected by political party organizations.

Mobilisation or Marginalisation? Neighbourhood Effects on Muslim Electoral Registration in Britain in 2001

“…, 2007). This pattern is a mirror image of findings from the US where precinct‐level registration levels have been found to be positively associated with Asian populations, while the equivalent for turnout is negative (Pelissero, Krebs and Jenkins, 2000). Of course, US registration law is different to the UK as is the nature of the populations in the comparison.…”

“…This is in contrast to turnout rates for the same general election for the same sample of areas, which showed no significant difference between Muslim turnout and the overall rate . This pattern is a mirror image of findings from the US where precinct-level registration levels have been found to be positively associated with Asian populations, while the equivalent for turnout is negative (Pelissero, Krebs and Jenkins, 2000). Of course, US registration law is different to the UK as is the nature of the populations in the comparison.…”

“…Evidence from the United States, where considerable research has been conducted on race and participation, suggests that there are considerable variations between ethnic, religious or racial groups in their propensity to register to vote (Pelissero et al. , 2000).…”

Muslims and Minority Politics in Great Britain

“…76 Similarly, electoral registration in Britain varies geographically and across social and demographic groups. 77 Table 4 shows the voter turnout levels in London borough elections between 1968 and 2006, slightly higher than overall levels.…”

Muslims in British Local Government

“…Research on race and political participation in the u.s. suggests that there are considerable variations between ethnic, religious and racial groups in electoral participation (Pelissero, Krebs, and Jenkins 2000). For instance, electoral registration in Britain varies geographically (Smith 1991) and across social and demographic groups (Smith 1991;Todd 1981).…”