IMMIGRATION AND THE CHANGING ELECTORATE

Thad Kousser

Californian Diversity

Diverse Society, Diverse Politics? Why is California so diverse? Does diversity add up to diverse politics?

Barriers to Minority Participation Barriers to voting eligibility Barriers to voter registration and turnout

Diverse Society, Diverse Politics?Why is California So Diverse

Diverse Society, Diverse Politics?Why is California So Diverse?

It’s not because California has been particularly welcoming.

It’s because California is an economic magnet.

Successive waves of economic boom which attracted immigrant labor, followed by a bust that resulted in a political backlash.

Diverse Society, Diverse Politics?Why is California So Diverse?

200,000 Chinese immigrants after the Gold Rush made this group 10% of California’s population. 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act stopped

immigration and led to deportation.

300,000 “Okies” fled dustbowl for California’s farm fields in Depression. Glut of workers led to discrimination.

Diverse Society, Diverse Politics?Why is California So Diverse?

“Great Migration” of blacks from rural South to WWII factories led to a 400% increase in CA’s black population. Housing laws allowed discrimination and

segregation.

1965 Immigration and Nationality Act ended national origin quotas and opened the door to Latin American and Asian immigration.

Diverse Society, Diverse Politics?Why is California So Diverse?

Source: www.californiaconnected.com

Diverse Society, Diverse Politics? Does diversity add up to diverse politics?

In 1990, Latinos were 26% of California’s population, 15% of eligible voters, 10% of registered voters, but just 6% of actual voters in June primary. (Citrin & Campbell, p. 287)

Latinos and Asian-Pacific Islanders have been considered the “sleeping giants” of California politics.

Diverse Society, Diverse Politics? Does diversity add up to diverse politics?

One Sleeping Giant Wakes Up

Barriers to Minority Participation

What stops residents in the population from being eligible voters? Some are not old enough (18) to vote. Latino

and API populations are younger than African-American and white populations.

Some have felony convictions, which disfranchises you in California. Conviction rates vary by ethnic group.

Barriers to Minority Participation

What stops residents in the population from being eligible voters? Many Latinos and

API-Americans are not citizens

Barriers to Minority Participation

What stops eligible voters from becoming registered and turning out to vote? Political socialization Language barriers Dual citizenship Education and income levels

Discussion Questions

Is it inevitable that the barriers to minority political participation will be overcome, that every sleeping giant will wake up?