Why Racial Disparities Lead to Political Disengagement

Political participation should be universal in a flourishing democracy, but it is still a faraway goal for many racial minorities. Let’s look at the racial inequities that contribute to political disengagement and how we might overcome these hurdles.

Voter Suppression Tactics

Voter suppression tactics are a significant barrier to political engagement, especially for racial minorities. These tactics include a variety of methods that intentionally or unintentionally limit the ability of these communities to exercise their right to vote. Here, we explore the different forms of voter suppression and their impact on minority voters.

Many states in the United States of America have implemented strict voter ID laws that require voters to present specific forms of identification at the polls. While these laws are often justified as measures to prevent voter fraud, studies have shown that they disproportionately affect minority voters.

For instance, the Brennan Center for Justice in 2014 reported that minority voters are less likely to possess the required forms of ID compared to white voters, leading to lower turnout among Black and Latino populations (Brennan Center, 2020). Additionally, for minority communities, getting an appropriate ID can be an especially difficult task. This covers the price of obtaining IDs, which involves paying for records like birth certificates, travelling to the location where IDs are issued, and having to take time off of work. Minority communities are frequently over-represented in low-income and rural areas, making these problems more severe there. Which is a topic we will come back to later in this blog.

Aggressive Poll Purging:

Another tactic used is through eliminating names from voter registration lists and is known as “voter roll purging,” and it’s frequently done to preserve voter database accuracy. But vigorous and ill-administered purging tactics have the potential to deny qualified voters their right to vote. Aggressive purging of voter rolls can disenfranchise minority voters for example, The Brennan Center for Justice found that states with aggressive purging policies disproportionately affected minority voters, who may be more likely to change addresses frequently due to economic instability. (Brennan Center, 2024).

Minority voters are also less likely to be informed about their removal from voter rolls. In many cases, purged voters find out only when they attempt to vote, at which point it may be too late to rectify the situation.

Economic Barriers to Participation

Economic barriers significantly impact political engagement, particularly among racial minorities. These barriers manifest in various ways, from the costs associated with voting to the broader socioeconomic inequalities that limit political participation. This phenomenon is not limited to one country but is a global issue. Understanding these economic barriers is crucial to addressing the root causes of political disengagement and fostering a more inclusive democracy.

Low-income and minority voters are disproportionately affected by the costs associated with voting. These expenses cover things like childcare arrangements, time off work, and transportation to polling locations.

for instance, in Richard Rothstein provides historical context and evidence demonstrating that systemic inequalities to minority groups affect economic status thus limiting their ability to participate in political activities, like making campaign donations or taking time off work to vote (Rothstein, 2017).When financial constraints come into play, engaging in politics becomes a challenge for many. The loss of income from taking time off to vote can be a major disincentive for many people who work in low-wage occupations. And you might think that it isn’t necessary to take time off work to vote, however many low-income minority voters work inflexible low paying jobs. And as we mentioned before in regard to getting the legal paperwork to vote such as ID the figure below shows that no state driver’s license office is open more than two days a week in the areas with the highest percentages of rural Black voters. A clear example of the racial low-income disparity within politics and society

Educational disparities:

Education is often regarded as the great equaliser, a means of empowerment and opportunity. On the other hand, unequal access to education can play a significant role in maintaining social and economic inequalities, particularly when it comes to political participation.

A large body of research indicates a positive relationship between political participation and education. People with higher levels of education are also more likely to be voters, engage in political discourse, comprehend policy matters, and have faith in their capacity to affect political results. For example, educational establishments frequently stress the value of civic engagement and accountability. Students learn about their rights and responsibilities as citizens, the value of voting, and how to participate in civic life in civics and social studies classrooms. Establishing this base is essential to creating a politically active public (Morris, 1984).

Getting a quality education is usually extremely difficult for marginalised groups, especially those living in low-income area For instance The main source of funding for public schools in the United States is municipal property taxes. Significant funding gaps exist between schools in wealthy neighbourhoods and those in economically challenged areas as a result of this system. While schools in low-income locations receive less support because of lower property prices, high-income schools benefit from greater property values and, subsequently, more significant tax revenue. (Bradley, Kate, 2022)

This lack of funding leads to higher class sizes, out-of-date textbooks, poor facilities, and less extracurricular activities. Such circumstances hinder students’ academic and civic development. below is a youtube video to further show this corolation between the socioeconomic class and race in regards to levels of education.

As seen Income and wealth disparities are barriers that limit political engagement and skew representation as the majority of victims being the impoverished ethnic minority, this shows just another racial and socioeconomic disparity that contributes to political disengagement.

In conclusion

Tackling these racial disparities is essential for creating a more inclusive political environment. By addressing the barriers to participation, such as voter suppression and economic obstacles we can work towards a democracy where everyone’s voice is heard. It’s up to us to advocate for changes that ensure equal access and representation for all.

 

bibliography:

Theodore R. Johnson (2020) The New Voter Suppression | Brennan Center for Justice, www.brennancenter.org. Available at: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/new-voter-suppression.

Voter Suppression | Brennan Center for Justice (2024) www.brennancenter.org. Available at: https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/ensure-every-american-can-vote/voter-suppression.

Rothstein, R. (2017) The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, Economic Policy Institute. Available at: https://www.epi.org/publication/the-color-of-law-a-forgotten-history-of-how-our-government-segregated-america/.

Morris, A.D. (1984) The Origins of the Civil Rights Movement, Google Books. Simon and Schuster. Available at: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=7vyHY9DWcu8C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ViewAPI&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false.

Bradley, K. (2022) The Socioeconomic Achievement Gap in the US Public Schools, Ballard Brief. Available at: https://ballardbrief.byu.edu/issue-briefs/the-socioeconomic-achievement-gap-in-the-us-public-schools.