MAPPING THE LITERATURE
Disenfranchisement
“Colorblind” Policy in Black and White: Racial Consequences of Disenfranchisement Policy
By: Holona Leanne Ochs, The Policy Studies Journal 34 (2006): 81-93.
In this report, the author agues that disenfranchisement policies target Black citizens and impact Black voters disparately compared with White voters. The report explains that disenfranchisement policies have a significant independent effect on voting rights in the Black community and do not have a similar effect on White voters. To view the report, visit:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/
10.1111/j.1541-0072.2006.00146.x
Municipal Right to Vote Action Plan: The Next Step Toward a Fully Protected Right to Vote
By: Usman Ahmed, FairVote (May 2006)
Because Americans treasure the right to vote, they often are surprised by a shocking fact: the Constitution does not affirm the right to vote. As a result, there are virtually no federal election administration standards. The Municipal Right to Vote Initiative seeks substantive reform at the local level while detailing a plan to take America's voting rights to their logical conclusion: an affirmative, federally protected right to vote. This report presents an exciting new option for action to secure the right to vote: organizing for a constitutional amendment while seeking immediate, substantive changes at the municipal level. To read the full report, visit:
http://www.fairvote.org/reports/democracyinnovations/
DI_mrtv_web.pdf
Outside Looking In: How Shutting Washington, D.C. Out of the Presidential Primary Process Hurts Blacks and Urban America
By: Ryan Griffin, FairVote Research Fellow, Voting and Democracy Research Center (May 2006)
Presidential elections are the only national elections in the United States; unfortunately, only a small number of Americans are able to play a meaningful part in either the general election or the primaries. This report makes clear the extent to which the preferences of Black and urban voters are underrepresented in the nomination process. To view this report, visit:
http://www.fairvote.org/reports/policyperspectives/
primary_report_final.pdf
The New Crackdown on Voter Registration Drives
By: The Brennan Center for Justice (August 2006)
The past few election cycles have seen a massive increase in voter registration efforts by nonpartisan, not-for-profit organizations, dramatically increasing voter registration rates among groups that have traditionally faced the greatest barriers to voting. Unfortunately, a number of states have recently passed—and others are considering—bills restricting these voter registration drives. This is a summary of recently enacted laws and regulations that create hurdles for voter registration drives in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Maryland, New Mexico, Missouri, and Washington. To view the summary, visit:
http://brennancenter.org/programs/downloads/
New%20Efforts%20to%20Restrict
%20Voter%20Registration%20
Drives%2008-28.pdf
Electoral College
Presidential Election Inequality: The Electoral College in the 21st Century
By: FairVote (2006)
According to the report, the Electoral College has come to establish and entrench political inequality even though the American people have consistently supported a national popular vote for president. FairVote argues that a popular vote in national elections is essential in order to maintain equality in the election system. To access this report, visit:
http://www.fairvote.org/media/perp/presidentialinequality.pdf
Immigration and Voting
Proof of Citizenship
By: The Brennan Center for Justice (September 2006)
This article is a summary of the requirements immigrants must abide by in order to vote in the United States. The article argues that the many proof of citizenship laws in the United States are disenfranchising potential immigrant voters. To view the article, visit:
http://brennancenter.org/programs/downloads/
Proof%20of%20Citizenship%20Issue%20Brief.pdf
Improving Electronic Voting
Letter Report on Electronic Voting
By: Dick Thornburgh and Richard Celeste, Community on a Framework for Understanding Electronic Voting (2006)
Many jurisdictions will face unprecedented challenges as they prepare to use new electronic voting equipment for the November elections, says a new report from the National Research Council. Because it will be the first time electronic voting is used on a large scale, jurisdictions must ensure backup procedures are available if the equipment fails. This report, in the form of a letter, details the difficulties that will be faced during the November 2006 elections. To read the full report online or to download, visit: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11704.html.
The Machinery of Democracy: Protecting Elections in an Electronic World
By: The Brennan Center for Justice (2006)
The Brennan Center’s Voting System Security Task Force is composed of internationally renowned government, academic, and private-sector scientists, voting machine experts, and security professionals. Together, they conducted the nation's first systematic analysis of security vulnerabilities in the three most commonly purchased electronic voting systems. The task force spent more than a year conducting its analysis and drafting its report. To access the report, visit:
http://www.brennancenter.org/Machinery
%20of%20Democracy-%20Full%208.8.06.pdf
Latinos and Voting
NCLR Voter Guide
By: National Council of La Raza (2006)
This voter guide seeks to promote a common understanding of the Latino legislative agenda in addition to providing a yard stick by which the Latino community can measure the effectiveness of their congressional representatives, senators, and potential candidates. To access the full report, visit:
http://www.nclr.org/content/publications/download/37082.
Racial Identity and Latino Voting
By: Atiya Kai Stokes, Florida State University, American Politics Research 34 (September 2006): 627-652.
Little empirical research has investigated the influence of racial identification on Latino vote choice. This article examines this relationship, controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors. The author argues that because race is central in determining the life chances and social positions of groups in the United States, racial self-identification influences the Latino voter’s decision to cast a ballot for a co-ethnic candidate over a non-Latino candidate. Ordered probability models show that race is a significant predictor of Latino vote choice. The findings raise interesting questions about Latino bloc voting, candidate preference, and participation more broadly. To read the article, visit:
http://apr.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/34/5/627
Voter Intimidation
The New Face of Jim Crow: Voter Suppression in America
By: People for the American Way (August 2006)
This report documents the recent spread of new regulatory, legislative, and administrative tactics that suppress voters. It includes overviews of varies policies and emerging strategies that are erecting barriers to the ballot box. To access this report visit:
http://media.pfaw.org/PDF/Reports/
TheNewFaceOfJimCrow.pdf
Voting Rights Act
Voting Rights Act at 40 (Brochure)
By: NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (2006)
This brochure clearly outlines the past, present, and future of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The history of the Voting Rights Act is explained in addition to the role of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in the passage of the Act. The provisions that needed to be renewed are explained in full detail. To view the brochure, visit:
http://www.naacpldf.org/content/pdf/pubs/
brochures/VRA_at_40_Brochure.pdf
Voting Rights Act at 40 (Fact Sheet)
By: NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (2006)
This fact sheet is designed to dispel myths suggesting African Americans will lose the right to vote in 2007. Written prior to the recent reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), this fact sheet addresses those portions of the VRA which were at the center of the myths. To view the fact sheet, visit:
http://www.naacpldf.org/content/pdf/
reauthorization/VRA_Fact_Sheet.pdf
Youth
On the Margins of Democratic Life: The Impact of Race and Ethnicity on the Political Engagement of Young People
By: Kim L. Fridkin, Patrick J. Kenney, and Jack Crittenden (September 2006)
The authors surveyed Anglo, African-American, Latino, and Native-American eighth-grade students in six middle schools from one U.S. county in 2003 and 2004. The goal of the project was to compare the attitudes of young people about politics and government at an early age to determine whether differences existed before high school. The authors found that minority and Anglo children differ dramatically in their skills and information levels about politics and government. To read this report, visit:
http://apr.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/34/5/605
Youth Voter Mobilization Tactics
By: The George Washington University, The Graduate School of Political Management (September 2006)
This booklet outlines the best ways to reach and turn out young voters, from phone banks to door knocks. Each tactic is evaluated through a randomized field experiment in order to determine how much that tactic increases a person’s likelihood to vote and its cost-effectiveness. It also outlines what does not work and is not worth a campaign’s time or money. To view the booklet, visit:
http://www.pewtrusts.com/pdf/CIRCLE_tactics_090806.pdf
Books
Democracy and Immigrant America: Changing Demographics and Political Participation
By: S. Karthick Ramakrishnan (2006)
This book provides a comprehensive analysis of democratic participation among first- and second-generation immigrants in the United States, addressing the questions that are integral to understanding the present-day realities of immigrant politics: How are immigrants changing the racial and ethnic makeup of the American electorate? Do traditional models of political behavior explain the voting participation of immigrants? By addressing these questions, Democracy in Immigrant America points the way forward for a new research agenda in immigrant politics. To order the book, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0804750440
Native Vote: American Indians, the Voting Rights Act, and the Right to Vote
By: Daniel McCool, Susan M. Olson, and Jennifer L. Robinson (2006)
This book explains the history and expansion of Indian voting rights, with an emphasis on 70 cases based on the Voting Rights Act and/or the Equal Protection Clause. The authors describe the struggle to obtain Indian citizenship and the basic right to vote and analyze the cases brought under the Voting Rights Act, including three case studies. The final two chapters assess the political impact of these cases and the role of American Indians in contemporary politics. To order this book, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/Native-Vote-American-Indians-
Voting/dp/0521548713/sr=1-6/qid=1158872402/ref=sr_1_6/
002-7052212-4437661?ie=UTF8&s=books
Is Voting for Young People?
By Martin P. Wattenberg (2006)
This book is an analysis of what has been identified as a big and growing problem in modern democracies; Although many youth today claim to be more interested in politics than in the past, studies show that they are less involved in the political process. This book examines the reason for this and offers suggestions on how to change the problem. To order the book, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/Voting-Young-People-Questions-Politics/dp/0321435699/
ref=pd_ecc_rvi_2/002-7052212-4437661?ie=UTF8
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