Why Do Minorities Vote? Status, Strife and Political Motivations

• In Event: The Electoral Effects of Group Status and Identity

Abstract

The impact of minority status and discrimination on electoral participation is a central theme in the study of representation and turnout gaps. Previous studies have indeed highlighted how gender, ethnicity, and sexuality shape individual voter turnout. An essential underlying argument suggests that being part of a minority group compels individuals to vote “as if their rights depended on it”. However, little is known about the motivations minority-status groups have to vote. This gap is crucial, especially considering the role political participation plays in empowering minority communities who have long been underrepresented in politics. In this paper, I investigate whether individuals within minority groups view voting differently than those with majority group status. In particular, I explore the motivations that drive individuals to participate in the electoral process, exploring whether voting is perceived as a right, civic duty, expression of partisanship, instrumental influence on politics, or as having no meaning at all. Using cross sectional survey data from 10 countries, I assess if minority status and perceived discrimination influence whether people vote or not, and the extent to which this depends on the meaning that individuals attribute to voting.

Author

• M. Belén Abdala, University of Vienna