RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Latino Electoral Participation: Variations on Demographics and Ethnicity
JF RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences
FD Russell Sage Foundation
SP 148
OP 164
DO 10.7758/RSF.2016.2.3.08
VO 2
IS 3
A1 Jan Leighley
A1 Jonathan Nagler
YR 2016
UL http://www.rsfjournal.org/content/2/3/148.abstract
AB Using the 2012 Latino Immigrant National Election Study, the 2012 American National Election Study, and the 2012 Current Population Survey, we document the demographic factors that influenced Latino (native-born and immigrant) voter turnout and participation in the 2012 presidential election. We estimate multivariable models of turnout and participation, including standard demographic characteristics (education, income, age, gender, marital status) as explanatory variables. Our findings indicate that the relationships between these characteristics and participation are much less consistent across these datasets than the conventional wisdom would suggest. Understanding these results likely requires survey data—with large sample sizes—including information on the resources (including education and income) available to immigrants in their home countries to better understand the lingering influences of immigrants’ experiences in their countries of origin on voter turnout.