Minority Voting Issues

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present an analysis of how electoral law has affected minority group efforts to participate in the electoral process. The focus is on those factors that have played a critical role in obstructing minority enfranchisement. The literature reviewed suggest a number of factors that affect political participation, including social networks, education, income, employment status, and region of residence. The existing research suggests that the pursuit of equality in voting participation needs to be undertaken not only from the social and political levels but also from the institutional level. The issue of political equality cannot be addressed before the hurdle of minority enfranchisement is fully understood and resolved. Only then can we comprehend other challenging issues of political representation and coalition building across minority groups or between majority and minority groups in all areas of social policy, including education. Today, the hard-won gains of minorities are in danger of being extinguished.