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Disparate Racial Impacts of Shelby County v. Holder on Voter Turnout

Author

Listed:
  • Billings, Stephen B.

    (University of Colorado, Boulder)

  • Braun, Noah

    (University of Pittsburgh)

  • Jones, Daniel

    (University of Pittsburgh)

  • Shi, Ying

    (Syracuse University)

Abstract

In Shelby County v. Holder (2013), the Supreme Court struck down a core provision of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) that enabled federal electoral oversight in select jurisdictions. We study whether this decision disproportionately impacted ballot access for Black and Hispanic registered voters. We use a rich dataset on voter behavior for the universe of registered voters combined with Census block-level sociodemographic attributes to document a decrease in turnout for Black, relative to white, individuals. These effects are concentrated in counties with larger Black and Hispanic populations, consistent with strategic targeting of voter suppression.

Suggested Citation

  • Billings, Stephen B. & Braun, Noah & Jones, Daniel & Shi, Ying, 2022. "Disparate Racial Impacts of Shelby County v. Holder on Voter Turnout," IZA Discussion Papers 15829, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15829
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Biggers, Daniel R. & Smith, Daniel A., 2020. "Does threatening their franchise make registered voters more likely to participate? Evidence from an aborted voter purge," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 50(3), pages 933-954, July.
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    5. Enrico Cantoni, 2020. "A Precinct Too Far: Turnout and Voting Costs," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 12(1), pages 61-85, January.
    6. Jones, Daniel & Shi, Ying, 2022. "Reducing Racial Inequality in Access to the Ballot Reduces Racial Inequality in Children's Later-Life Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 15095, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Filer, John E & Kenny, Lawrence W & Morton, Rebecca B, 1991. "Voting Laws, Educational Policies, and Minority Turnout," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 34(2), pages 371-393, October.
    8. Desmond Ang, 2019. "Do 40-Year-Old Facts Still Matter? Long-Run Effects of Federal Oversight under the Voting Rights Act," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(3), pages 1-53, July.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    political participation; Voting Rights Act;

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • K16 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Election Law

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