The Political (Mis)representation of Immigrants in Voting
University of Colorado Law Review, Vol. 92, 2021
36 Pages Posted: 9 Feb 2021 Last revised: 15 Mar 2021
Date Written: December 10, 2020
Abstract
Who is a member of the political community? What barriers to inclusion do immigrants face as outsiders to this political community? This essay describes several barriers facing immigrants and naturalized citizens that impede their political belonging. It critiques these barriers not on the basis of immigrants’ rights, but on the basis of the rights of semi-citizenship. By placing naturalization backlogs, voting restrictions, and reapportionment battles in the historical context of voter suppression, it provides a descriptive and normative account of the political misrepresentation of immigrants.
Keywords: Voting, immigration, equality, race
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