America's Uneven Democracy: Race, Turnout, and Representation in City Politics

by Zoltan L. Hajnal

• ISBN13: 9780521190343
• ISBN10: 0521190347
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-11-23
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Although there is a widespread belief that uneven voter turnout leads to biased outcomes in American democracy, existing empirical tests have found few effects. By offering a systematic account of how and where turnout matters in local politics, this book challenges much of what we know about turnout in America today. It demonstrates that low and uneven turnout, a factor at play in most American cities, leads to sub-optimal outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities. Low turnout results in losses in mayoral elections, less equitable racial and ethnic representation on city councils, and skewed spending policies. The importance of turnout confirms long held suspicions about the under-representation of minorities and raises normative concerns about local democracy. Fortunately, this book offers a solution. Analysis of local participation indicates that a small change to local election timing - a reform that is cost effective and relatively easy to enact- could dramatically expand local voter turnout.

Table of Contents

Introduction: the vote and democracy

Where turnout should matter

Turnout could matter at the local level

Winners and losers in mayoral elections

Turnout and representation on city councils

Turnout and local government spending priorities

Raising voter turnout

The benefits of expanded participation

Appendix

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