The effect of party mobilization, group identity, and racial context on Asian Americans’ turnout

Abstract

This study examines the effects of party mobilization, racial group identity, and racial context in accounting for Asian Americans’ voter turnout. Existing studies on minority group members’ voter turnout suggest that third party mobilization is one of the most important factors that motivates citizens’ participation in voting. This study expands these studies by elaborating the mechanisms of how party mobilization affects Asian Americans’ voter turnout in connection with racial identity and racial context. Specifically, I propose that belief in pan-ethnic Asian identity and racial context condition the effect of party mobilization in predicting Asian Americans’ voter turnout. The National Asian American Survey of 2008 is used to test this hypothesis. Analysis shows that party mobilization, group identity, and racial context work together in accounting for Asians’ voter turnout. The effect of existing parties’ mobilization efforts on Asians’ political participation is stronger among Asians who do not have a belief in linked fate. In addition, the conditional effect of party mobilization and linked fate exists only in the counties where few Asian Americans live. Similarly, the conditional effect of party mobilization and group size in the counties is dependent on the level of linked fate.