How Black Candidates Affect Voter Turnout

33 Pages Posted: 25 May 2006

See all articles by Ebonya L. Washington

Ebonya L. Washington

Yale University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 2006

Abstract

Both Black and White voter turnout increases 2-3 percentage points with each Black Democrat on the ballot. Given the groups' representations in the population, the White response is numerically greater. Whites of both parties are less likely to vote for their parties' candidate when s/he is Black. The turnout findings are not explained away by voter, election, or politician characteristics. However the fact that there is no turnout response to Black Republicans suggests that a perception of Blacks' ideology may be a factor.

Keywords: African Americans, political economy, voter turnout

JEL Classification: H0, J15, P48

Suggested Citation

Washington, Ebonya L., How Black Candidates Affect Voter Turnout (January 2006). Yale Economic Applications and Policy Discussion Paper No. 16, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=904344 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.904344

Ebonya L. Washington (Contact Author)

Yale University - Department of Economics ( email )

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United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.yale.edu/polisci/people/ewashington.html

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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