Minority Voters

The continued diversification of the U.S. electorate makes this entry focused on minority voters both important and timely. The 2016 electorate, or eligible voter population, is noted as the country’s most racially and ethnically diverse in American history. By the November 2016 Election Day, Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Native American voters made up nearly one in three eligible voters (31%), up from 29% in 2012. Shifting demographics, fueled largely by Latino/a population growth, are undoubtedly changing what the American electorate looks like.

These changes beg the questions: Do minority voters behave differently from White majority voters? And will these changes affect political outcomes? To assess these important questions, this entry examines the literature on minority political behavior, addressing issues of political participation and policy preferences, with ...