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ELECTION 2024 - Historically, certain demographics, such as young people, minorities, and those with lower incomes, have had lower voter turnout. In light of this, WalletHub recently released a report examining the States With the Best & Worst Representation on Election Day, aiming to identify which states have voting populations that most closely resemble their actual electorates.
WalletHub’s study compared the demographics of voters in all 50 states with the demographics of eligible voters, using key characteristics such as age, race, and gender. Additionally, the report assessed how well voters nationally represent the U.S. electorate using additional factors like employment status, family income, educational attainment, and marital status.
California’s Voter Representation
California, one of the nation’s most populous and diverse states, performs relatively well in terms of voter representation. According to WalletHub’s analysis:
- Overall Representation: 93.41%
- Racial Representation: 90.66%
- Age Representation: 91.69%
- Gender Representation: 97.88%
These figures suggest that while California has a fairly representative voting population in terms of gender, slight gaps remain when it comes to racial and age representation.
New Jersey Tops the List
New Jersey was recognized as the state where voters most closely resemble the actual electorate, with an impressive score of 96.6 out of 100. When looking at race specifically, New Jersey scores 94.8 for similarity, ranking second-lowest in the discrepancy between the share of Asian and Hispanic residents eligible to vote and those who actually voted. Additionally, the state scores 95.3 out of 100 for age representation and 99.5 for gender representation.
Addressing Low Voter Turnout Among Minority Groups
Experts provided insight into why minority voters often have lower turnout rates. According to Chad Kinsella, an Associate Professor at Ball State University, minority voters frequently belong to demographic groups—such as lower-income or lower-educated individuals—that are less likely to vote. He also noted a sense of distrust in government among some minority communities and a perception that their issues are not being addressed, which further discourages turnout.
Christopher M England, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor at the College of Western Idaho, added that strict voter ID laws disproportionately suppress minority voting. He explained that minority voters are more likely to face challenges obtaining the necessary forms of identification, particularly those from lower-income, younger, or urban populations.
Solutions to Increase Voter Turnout
Experts believe there are measures that can be taken to increase voter turnout among underrepresented groups. Kinsella recommends efforts to register minority voters and engage them in the political process, while England suggests expanding early voting options and making Election Day a federal holiday as potential solutions to remove barriers to voting. However, England cautions that while some countries have mandatory voting, such a measure may not align with the U.S. political culture.
Redistricting and Representation
Redistricting, the process of drawing electoral district boundaries, is another factor that affects voter representation. Both Kinsella and England highlight the challenges of ensuring fairness in redistricting. Gerrymandering, or the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party, is a significant issue in the U.S. England suggests that independent, non-partisan redistricting commissions or the use of algorithms to draw neutral district lines could help address this issue.
Conclusion
States where the voting population most closely matches the overall electorate are more likely to elect representatives and enact policies that benefit all demographics. While some states like New Jersey have made significant strides in aligning their voting populations with their eligible electorates, efforts to improve representation across various demographics, particularly among minority and low-income groups, remain crucial for a more equitable political system.
For more details on the report, visit WalletHub’s Voter Representation Index.
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