Voter identification requirements, collective descriptive representation, and Black and Latino voter turnout

Abstract

ABSTRACT Previous evidence on the racial and ethnic effects of voter identification (ID) requirements is mixed; some works find voter IDs decrease Black and Latino turnout, others find no effect, and some conclude they may increase non-white turnout. Though these findings seem contradictory, this study argues all are plausible under the right conditions, specifically, the (lack of) racial/ethnic collective descriptive representation. Collective descriptive representation, or the extent to which an individual is represented by multiple members of their racial or ethnic group in office, may mediate the impact of voter ID requirements by providing substantive and symbolic benefits that outweigh costs of obtaining IDs, and by providing ID information and social pressure through mobilization efforts. As such, it is likely that the discriminatory effects of voter IDs differ based on the extent to which voters are descriptively represented. Using voter surveys (2006–2018; N = 59 K Black, 54 K Latino) and a representative sample of national voter roll data (2012; N = 343 K Black, 279 K Latino), this study shows the effect of collective representation is larger in states with voter identification requirements, likely as campaigns attempt to offset the perceived negative effects of these requirements. However, this effect is only uncovered for Black, not Latino, Americans.