Unlocking the AAPI Vote: A Study on Language Ballots and Voter Turnout in California Open Access
Lee, Grace (Spring 2024)
Abstract
Why do Asian voters have lower turnout despite a demonstrated interest in participation? Because of their high rates of immigration, Asian Americans are especially impacted by language barriers, evident by a large proportion of Asian voters with limited English proficiency. This paper studies the correlation between Asian language ballots provided by Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act and corresponding Asian voter turnout at the county level in California for presidential and midterm elections from 2012 to 2022. While other studies have covered this topic area, this paper is unique in its subdivision by national origin group. The hypotheses test for six individual Asian ethnic groups in California: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese and Indian. With varying statistical significance, the paper finds a negative correlation between the provision of the language ballot and the corresponding Asian national origin group’s voter turnout. The Hindi ballot had the greatest negative correlation to Indian voter turnout, explained by the especially wide language diversity spoken by Indian Americans. The combined regression also showed a negative correlation of statistical significance between the provision of an Asian language ballot and Asian voter turnout. Some limitations that explain for the overall trend are counties or precincts with hidden coverage, where they may be substantively covered but not indicated in the data due to missing reports from the registrar’s office. Limited English proficient voters, even when provided with the ballot, may still be not predisposed to vote because of socioeconomic factors that cannot be observed in this study.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
LITERATURE REVIEW
Voter Behavior Defined Through Identity
Key Legislation at the Federal and State Level
Studies of Interest
THEORETICAL ARGUMENT
Resource Theory
Information Theory
HYPOTHESES
DATA
Voter Turnout Data
Language Ballot Data
Figure 1: Section 203 Asian Language Provisions
RESEARCH DESIGN
RESULTS
Figure 2: Chinese Voter Turnout Regression
Figure 3: Japanese Voter Turnout Regression
Figure 4: Korean Voter Turnout Regression
Figure 5: Filipino Voter Turnout Regression
Figure 6: Vietnamese Voter Turnout Regression
Figure 7: Indian Voter Turnout Regression
Figure 8: Model 5 Comparison
Figure 9: Asian Voter Turnout Regression
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Hidden Coverage
LEP Voters and Automatic Registration
REFERENCES
About this Honors Thesis
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