IMMIGRATION AND THE CHANGING ELECTORATE

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IMMIGRATION AND THE CHANGING ELECTORATE

• Thad Kousser

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Californian Diversity

• Diverse Society, Diverse Politics?
• Why is California so diverse?
• Does diversity add up to diverse politics?
• Barriers to Minority Participation
• Barriers to voting eligibility
• Barriers to voter registration and turnout

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Diverse Society, Diverse Politics?Why is
California So Diverse
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Diverse Society, Diverse Politics?Why is
California So Diverse?

• Its not because California has been particularly
  welcoming.
• Its because California is an economic magnet.
• Successive waves of economic boom which attracted
  immigrant labor, followed by a bust that resulted
  in a political backlash.

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Diverse Society, Diverse Politics?Why is
California So Diverse?

• 200,000 Chinese immigrants after the Gold Rush
  made this group 10 of Californias population.
• 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act stopped immigration
  and led to deportation.
• 300,000 Okies fled dustbowl for Californias
  farm fields in Depression.
• Glut of workers led to discrimination.

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Diverse Society, Diverse Politics?Why is
California So Diverse?

• Great Migration of blacks from rural South to
  WWII factories led to a 400 increase in CAs
  black population.
• Housing laws allowed discrimination and
  segregation.
• 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act ended
  national origin quotas and opened the door to
  Latin American and Asian immigration.

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Diverse Society, Diverse Politics?Why is
California So Diverse?
Source www.californiaconnected.com
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Diverse Society, Diverse Politics? Does
diversity add up to diverse politics?

• In 1990, Latinos were 26 of Californias
  population, 15 of eligible voters, 10 of
  registered voters, but just 6 of actual voters
  in June primary. (Citrin Campbell, p. 287)
• Latinos and Asian-Pacific Islanders have been
  considered the sleeping giants of California
  politics.

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Diverse Society, Diverse Politics? Does
diversity add up to diverse politics?
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One Sleeping Giant Wakes Up
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Barriers to Minority Participation

• What stops residents in the population from being
  eligible voters?
• Some are not old enough (18) to vote. Latino and
  API populations are younger than African-American
  and white populations.
• Some have felony convictions, which disfranchises
  you in California. Conviction rates vary by
  ethnic group.

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Barriers to Minority Participation

• What stops residents in the population from being
  eligible voters?
• Many Latinos and API-Americans are not citizens

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Barriers to Minority Participation

• What stops eligible voters from becoming
  registered and turning out to vote?
• Political socialization
• Language barriers
• Dual citizenship
• Education and income levels

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Discussion Questions

• Is it inevitable that the barriers to minority
  political participation will be overcome, that
  every sleeping giant will wake up?