Because the American Electorate Should Represent the American People
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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An Analysis of Who Voted (and Who Didn’t Vote) in the 2010 Election
In this research memo, Lorraine C. Minnite and Jody Herman look at who voted (and who didn’t vote) in the 2010 election. Read more
Research Memo: Debunking the Tea Party’s Election Night Message
In this research memo, Lorraine Minnite examines public expectations and attitudes toward government as the context for analyzing the 2010 federal midterm election results. Read more
What Happened to Hope and Change? A Poll of 2008 Voters
This report summarizes the findings of a poll, conducted in July 2010, which reveals that most Americans are dissatisfied with the current state of the country, but a clear majority of them want their government to do more, not less. Read more
What Happened to Hope and Change? How Fascination with the Tea Party Obscures the Significance of the 2008 Electorate
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
Representational Bias in the 2008 Electorate
A new report, Representational Bias, identifies disparities in the changing American electorate. Read more
Research Memo: Internet Access and Voter Registration
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
The Demographics of Voters in America’s 2008 General Election: A Preliminary Assessment
In this memorandum, Jody Herman and Lorraine Minnite assess demographic shifts that took place in the 2008 general election compared to the 2004 general election. Read more
Wisconsin Votes: Civic Engagement in the Badger State
This 2008 report provides a concise review of Wisconsin’s population and voter participation trends of several demographic groups in the November 2006 election, based largely on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. Read more
Florida Votes: Civic Engagement in the Sunshine State
In this 2008 report, Benjamin Spears uses Census Bureau Current Population Survey (CPS) data to present information on Florida’s population, voter registration and voting participation over time and to compare it to data relative to the United States. Read more
Colorado Votes: Civic Engagement Engagement in the Rocky Mountain, 2002-2006
In this 2008 report, Benjamin Spears provides a concise review of Colorado’s population and voter participation trends of various demographic groups between 2002 and 2006. Read more