One key factor explaining voter registration differences by state: Ethnicity

*We can twist this into many talking points and excuses, but ultimately the lack Latino of voter participation falls on Latinos. This map tells an undeniable story. We all know that. We’ve been talking about registering more Latinos and getting them to the polls for a long, long time. The efforts over the years have been good, but the potential is great and the work is not enough. In past generations it was a personal burden. My grandfather organized fund raisers to pay for people’s poll tax. Is it personal for us? VL

By Phillip Bump, The Washington Post

Notice that it isn’t interactive; the arrows don’t do anything. It’s a still from a very cool tool created by the Public Religion Research Institute. (Which also lets you explore a bunch of other data, so go look at it.) (After you finish reading this.)

The question that could/might/should arise from that map is: What accounts for the discrepancy? Why are so many people in Missouri registered to vote and so few in, say, Texas?

The answer? States with higher Hispanic populations have lower rates of registration.

Click HERE to read the full story.

[Image courtesy of Public Religion Research Institute]

Subscribe today!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Must Read