Elections: Who DecidesElections: Who Decides

Voter Demographics, Voter Demographics,

Registration and TurnoutRegistration and Turnout

Government Sources:Government Sources:

Decennial CensusDecennial CensusCurrent Population Survey, Current Population Survey,

November SupplementNovember SupplementReport of Registration Report of Registration (Secretary of (Secretary of

State, County Registrar)State, County Registrar)Statement of Vote Statement of Vote (Secretary of (Secretary of

State, County Registrar)State, County Registrar)

Non-governmental SourcesNon-governmental Sources

News Sources News Sources (LexisNexis, NYT, (LexisNexis, NYT, LA Times, etc.)LA Times, etc.)

Opinion Polls Opinion Polls (Roper Center iPoll)(Roper Center iPoll)Surveys Surveys (other than CPS, ICPSR)(other than CPS, ICPSR)

The research question:The research question:

How many Latinos in Los Angeles are How many Latinos in Los Angeles are eligible to vote?eligible to vote?

Geography Geography Time period Time period

Population and Units of Population and Units of Analysis Analysis

Los Angeles cityLos Angeles city Current 2000-2008Current 2000-2008 Individuals 18 and Individuals 18 and

older, race/ethnicity = older, race/ethnicity = hispanichispanic

Creating a Voter ProfileCreating a Voter Profile

Who are the electorate? Who are the electorate? What do they look like demographically?What do they look like demographically?Who is the "typical" Democrat/Republican.Who is the "typical" Democrat/Republican.Who seems to be the "typical" voter? Who seems to be the "typical" voter?

Defining the Research QuestionDefining the Research Question

GeographyGeography: : Physical areas, Government Physical areas, Government units, Political boundaries, Other – school units, Political boundaries, Other – school districts, etc.districts, etc.

Time periodTime period: : “Current”, Historical, Over time“Current”, Historical, Over time

Population & Units of analysisPopulation & Units of analysis: : Gender, Gender, age, etc.Race, ethnicity, ancestry,etc. age, etc.Race, ethnicity, ancestry,etc. Persons, Households, Other – schools, Persons, Households, Other – schools, hospitals, etc.hospitals, etc.

Defining the Research QuestionDefining the Research QuestionQuestionnaire: Questionnaire: What was asked? What What was asked? What

information was collected? information was collected?

Variables in the dataset: Variables in the dataset: How are the How are the responses organized? What are the responses organized? What are the response categories?response categories?

Context: Context: What is your hypothesis? What will What is your hypothesis? What will the data tell you? the data tell you?

Research Discovery ContinuumResearch Discovery Continuum(Mapping the Questions to Sources)(Mapping the Questions to Sources)

Statistical Sources-Statistical Sources- compilations or published compilations or published statistics by an agency - summary statistics; may statistics by an agency - summary statistics; may not have all the geographies but will help you not have all the geographies but will help you determine the source of the data; often going to determine the source of the data; often going to the agency responsible for collecting the data, the agency responsible for collecting the data, you can get statistics, aggregate data, and in you can get statistics, aggregate data, and in many cases microdata. many cases microdata.

News ArticlesNews Articles - newspapers will report - newspapers will report statistics, sometimes at a local level; good for statistics, sometimes at a local level; good for finding out votes cast, turnout immediately and finding out votes cast, turnout immediately and the source of the data. the source of the data.

Research Discovery ContinuumResearch Discovery Continuum(Mapping the Questions to Sources)(Mapping the Questions to Sources)

Scholarly ArticlesScholarly Articles - studies that examine a particular - studies that examine a particular question and utilized standard data sources or create question and utilized standard data sources or create their own; a good way to find out source survey and their own; a good way to find out source survey and microdata microdata

Data SourcesData Sources - using a source that indexes surveys and - using a source that indexes surveys and microdata, like microdata, like ICPSRICPSR can help you locate study can help you locate study detailes, questionnaires, codebooks and variables that detailes, questionnaires, codebooks and variables that cover what you study, especially if the published cover what you study, especially if the published statistics from a government agency does not collect the statistics from a government agency does not collect the information. Reading the codebooks, questionnaires, information. Reading the codebooks, questionnaires, and other documentation will help you determine which and other documentation will help you determine which datasets you can use, if the information collected will datasets you can use, if the information collected will cover the variables you want. cover the variables you want.

Who is Eligible to Vote?Who is Eligible to Vote?

U.S. CitizenU.S. Citizen18 years or older18 years or olderSpecific State LawsSpecific State Laws

Criminal HistoryCriminal HistoryResidencyResidencyMental competencyMental competencyLoyalty OathLoyalty Oath

Voter Demographics via the Voter Demographics via the Decennial CensusDecennial Census

Most comprehensive source on the Most comprehensive source on the demographics and socio-economic status demographics and socio-economic status of the American people for multiple of the American people for multiple geographies.geographies.

Does not collect political party or religious Does not collect political party or religious affiliations (see questionnaires)affiliations (see questionnaires)

Tables by age, by citizenship statusTables by age, by citizenship statusFact Finder is aggregate dataFact Finder is aggregate data

Source – 2000 Decennial Census Source – 2000 Decennial Census via American Fact Findervia American Fact Finder

Fact Sheets in Fact Finder

Total number of people 18 and older

Summary FilesSummary FilesSF 1 and SF 2SF 1 and SF 2 100% Data – Short Form100% Data – Short Form All geographies in US and Puerto All geographies in US and Puerto

RicoRico Basic population and housing Basic population and housing

variables:variables: AgeAge SexSex RaceRace Hispanic or Latino OriginHispanic or Latino Origin Household TypeHousehold Type RelationshipRelationship Group QuartersGroup Quarters Tenure: Own or Rent Tenure: Own or Rent Vacancy StatusVacancy Status

SF 2 provides “many” detailed SF 2 provides “many” detailed race variablesrace variables

SF 3 and SF 4SF 3 and SF 4 Sample Data 1 in 6 – Long Sample Data 1 in 6 – Long

FormForm All Geographies except for All Geographies except for

Blocks in US and Puerto RicoBlocks in US and Puerto Rico Detailed population, housing, Detailed population, housing,

socio-economic variablessocio-economic variables SF 4 provides 336 race, SF 4 provides 336 race,

ethnicity, and ancestry ethnicity, and ancestry variablesvariables

Ability to speak EnglishAncestryCitizenship statusClass of workerDisabilityFarm ResidenceEducational attainmentEmployment statusGrandparents as caregiversIncome in 1999Industry

Journey to work (commuting)Language spoken at homeMarital statusMigrationOccupationPlace of birthPlace of workPoverty status in 1999School enrollmentVeteran statusWork status in 1999Year of entry

SF 3 PopulationVariables

Making TablesMaking Tables

Quick TablesQuick Tables

Data TablesData Tables

Custom TablesCustom Tables

Geographic Comparison TablesGeographic Comparison Tables

SF 1 Tables by AgeSF 1 Tables by Age P5 Race for the population 18 years and overP5 Race for the population 18 years and over P6 Hispanic or Latino, and not Hispanic or Latino by race P6 Hispanic or Latino, and not Hispanic or Latino by race

for the population 18 years and overfor the population 18 years and over P12, P12A- I Sex by age (race variable) groupingsP12, P12A- I Sex by age (race variable) groupings PCT 12, 12A-O Sex by Age (race variable) single yearPCT 12, 12A-O Sex by Age (race variable) single year PCT 13, 13A-I Sex by age (People in Households, race PCT 13, 13A-I Sex by age (People in Households, race

variable)variable) P20 Households by age of householder by household P20 Households by age of householder by household

type by presence of own children*type by presence of own children* P38 Group quarters population by sex by age by group P38 Group quarters population by sex by age by group

quarters type (institutionalized and non)quarters type (institutionalized and non) PCT 17, 17A-17I Group quarters population by sex by PCT 17, 17A-17I Group quarters population by sex by

age by group quarters type (institutionalized and non, age by group quarters type (institutionalized and non, race variablerace variable

SF2 Tables By AgeSF2 Tables By Age

Fewer tables, more race and ethnicity Fewer tables, more race and ethnicity variablesvariables

PCT 3 Sex by age (individual year)PCT 3 Sex by age (individual year)PCT 5 Sex by age (groupings)PCT 5 Sex by age (groupings)PCT 11 Households by age of PCT 11 Households by age of

householder by household type by householder by household type by presence of own childrenpresence of own children

(selected) SF 3 Tables by Age(selected) SF 3 Tables by Age P8 Sex by Age (individual years up to 21; groupings 22-P8 Sex by Age (individual years up to 21; groupings 22-

24 and over)24 and over) P19 Age by language spoken at home by ability to P19 Age by language spoken at home by ability to

speak English for the population 5 years and overspeak English for the population 5 years and over P39 Sex by age by armed forces status by veteran P39 Sex by age by armed forces status by veteran

status for the population 18 years and overstatus for the population 18 years and over P87 Poverty status in 1999 by ageP87 Poverty status in 1999 by age PCT23 Sex by school enrollment by age for the PCT23 Sex by school enrollment by age for the

population 3 years and overpopulation 3 years and over PCT24 Sex by college or graduate school enrollment by PCT24 Sex by college or graduate school enrollment by

age for the population 15 years and over age for the population 15 years and over PCT25 Sex by age by educational attainment for the PCT25 Sex by age by educational attainment for the

population 18 years and over population 18 years and over Other tablesOther tables

(selected) SF4 Tables by Age(selected) SF4 Tables by Age

PCT3 Sex by age (individual year)PCT3 Sex by age (individual year) PCT5 Sex by age for the population in PCT5 Sex by age for the population in

householdshouseholds PCT35 Sex by marital status by age for the PCT35 Sex by marital status by age for the

population 15 years and overpopulation 15 years and over PCT38 Age by language spoken at home by PCT38 Age by language spoken at home by

ability to speak English for the population 5 ability to speak English for the population 5 years and overyears and over

PCT44 Sex by age by citizenship status PCT44 Sex by age by citizenship status PCT62 Sex by school enrollment by age for the PCT62 Sex by school enrollment by age for the

population 3 years and overpopulation 3 years and over

Heating FuelBedrooms

Kitchen facilitiesMortgage status

PlumbingReal estate taxes

RoomsSelected monthly owner costs (utilities, insurance,

fuel costs)Telephone serviceUnits in structure

Value of home or monthly rent paidVehicles available

Year moved into residenceYear structure built

SF3 Housing Variables

AncestryCitizenship statusDisabilityEducational attainmentEmployment statusGrandparents as caregiversHouseholds and familiesIncome in 1999Industry, occupation, and class of workerJourney to work (commuting)

Language and ability to speak EnglishMarital statusMigrationPlace of birthPlace of workPoverty status in 1999School enrollmentVeteran statusWork status in 1999Year of entry

SF 4 PopulationVariables

BedroomsHeating Fuel

Kitchen facilitiesMortgage status

Plumbing facilitiesReal estate taxes

RoomsSelected monthly owner costs (utilities, insurance,

fuel costs)Telephone serviceUnits in structure

Value of home or monthly rent paidVehicles available

Year moved into structureYear structure built

SF3 Housing Variables

Other FilesOther Files

Congressional District Summary Files Congressional District Summary Files

State Legislative District Summary File State Legislative District Summary File

P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Summary File P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Summary File

CPS – November SupplementCPS – November Supplement

Aggregate data and microdata from a Aggregate data and microdata from a surveysurvey

CPS collected every March, Voter CPS collected every March, Voter Supplement in November since 1960Supplement in November since 1960

Reports gives geography down to state; Reports gives geography down to state; microdata down to county and principal microdata down to county and principal cities.cities.

CPS Report VariablesCPS Report Variables

Registered populationRegistered population VotedVoted NonVotersNonVoters Citizenship Citizenship

(consistently since (consistently since 1994)1994)

Reasons for not Reasons for not registeringregistering

Geographies:Geographies: U.S. U.S. StateState RegionRegion

CPS Report VariablesCPS Report Variables

TenureTenure Duration at ResidenceDuration at Residence Veteran StatusVeteran Status

SexSex AgeAge RaceRace Hispanic or LatinoHispanic or Latino Nativity StatusNativity Status Marital StatusMarital Status Educational AttainmentEducational Attainment Family IncomeFamily Income Employment StatusEmployment Status

CPS Microdata FileCPS Microdata File

See questionnaire for questions asked See questionnaire for questions asked and codebook for variables and codebook for variables

Richer study of the data – can cross-Richer study of the data – can cross-tabulate variables tabulate variables

Geography down to the city levelGeography down to the city levelNo party affiliationNo party affiliation

Voter Registration Search Information available for a voter registered in Los Angeles County is the person's name, political party, birth date/place, mailing address if provided, and whether the registration is active or canceled. Pursuant to State law the voter's residence address is confidential. The general public is welcome to call or come into the office noted below and access this information free of charge. Telephone inquiries are limited to three names. Persons coming in the office are required to sign a User's Log. If you are unable to come into the office, you may mail in a written request for voter record information. There is a $5 non-refundable voter file record search fee charge per name and year checked. A certified copy of a voter record can be obtained for $6.50, which includes the search fee. A written request for a record must include the person's name and birth date.