The Political (Mis)representation of Immigrants in Voting

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