Composition of the Electorate

Because the American Electorate Should Represent the American People

Download Representational Bias in the 2014 Electorate here.
Download Representational Bias in the 2014 Electorate here.

Low-income and minority citizens—both significant portions of the American population—are historically alienated from the electoral process. As a result, the proportion of the U.S. population that registers to vote and that does vote is highly skewed towards Whites, the educated and the wealthy.

These disparities in the electorate weaken our democracy and skew the national agenda by excluding from major public policy decisions the voices of the least powerful and most vulnerable citizens.

Project Vote research documents these disparities, and works to close the gaps by encouraging voter participation among underrepresented populations, and eliminate unfair barriers to voter registration and participation.

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Labor Seeks to Mobilize Jobless, Progressive Base

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The importance of labor, youth, and minority voters in the upcoming midterm election was underscored in an important briefing paper by Project Vote's Lorraine Minnite… Read more

Upcoming Poll to Show What New Voters Really Want from the Government

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Today, Project Vote released a new memo, What Happened to Hope and Change? How Fascination with the “Tea Party” Obscures... Read more

What Happened to Hope and Change? How Fascination with the Tea Party Obscures the Significance of the 2008 Electorate

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Less than two years after the 2008 election, the rising American electorate has been largely forgotten, their issues ignored, and their voices drowned out by “Tea Party” rhetoric. Read more

Progressives: Beware of the Tea Party Rhetorical Swamp

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Why is a progressive as smart as Robert Reich ceding Tea Party talking points as he analyzes this moment in... Read more

Election Day Preparations Reach New Heights, but Will Voters Turn Out?

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If there is a checklist for Election Day preparations, policy makers, candidates, and voter registration advocates have covered many bases... Read more

Report Shows 2008 Electorate is Most Diverse in Modern History

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The 2008 election was the most diverse in modern history, with increases in participation among young people, minorities, unmarried individuals,... Read more

Project Vote Releases New Report on Composition of the 2008 Electorate

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Representational Bias in the 2008 Electorate reviews the story of who was eligible to vote, who was registered to vote, and who did vote in the 2008 general election. Read more

Representational Bias in the 2008 Electorate

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A new report, Representational Bias, identifies disparities in the changing American electorate. Read more

Research Memo: Internet Access and Voter Registration

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This 2009 memo examines one limitation to online voter registration when it comes to closing existing demographic disparities in voter registration rates: Internet access. Read more

NEW: Project Vote Analysis of CPS Data Shows a More Diverse Electorate in 2008

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The November 2008 election saw dramatic increases in participation by traditionally underrepresented groups, including Americans of color and young voters, according to a new research memo released today by Project Vote. Read more