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Minority Turnout and the Creation of Majority-Minority Districts

Election Data Services

Lisa Handley

Election Data Services

Richard G. Niemi

University of Rochester

Harold W. Stanley

University of Rochester

In the construction of majority-minority districts, it has typically been assumed that turnout of minority voters is low compared to that of Whites. But what happens in the minority-dominated districts that are created? With a considerably enhanced ability to elect a candidate of their own choosing, does turnout increase? We test whether the creation of majority-minority legislative districts in Florida increased turnout of Black and Hispanic voters in 1992. The results are mixed. Over-time comparisons suggest that turnout of both groups might have benefitted from the creation of majority-minority districts. Cross-sectional analyses, however, suggest both increases and decreases in turnout in the newly created minority districts. We cannot yet conclude that the creation of minority-dominated districts has a consistent effect on minority turnout.

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