The Impact of Politicized Churches and party Contact on African American Voter Turnout (original) (raw)

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This paper investigates the role of politicized churches and party contact in influencing voter turnout among African Americans. It highlights the historical significance of the African American church as a mobilizing force for political engagement, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement. The research presents empirical evidence showing that increased party contact and the influence of politicized churches are positively correlated with higher levels of voter participation in the African American community, indicating important implications for future political mobilization efforts.

Figures (5)

Predicted Probabilities of Voting by Party C ontact

Predicted Probabilities of Voting by Party C ontact

Predicted Probabilities of Voting by Politicized Church Turing to the effects of African American group based attitudes on turnout, ii appears that linked fate is not a significant predictor (Table 1). However, Africar Americans group efficacy was significant at the .05 level. Figure 3 displays the predictec probabilities of voting for the various levels of African Americans group efficacy. It show: that a change from no group efficacy to the highest level of group efficacy increases the likelihood of voting by 20.9 percentage points (84.2-63.3), indicating a substantial impac on the voter turnout of African Americans. This finding provides us with additional evidence that group based heuristic approaches are important in studying the political behavior of African Americans. Ralph Bunche Journal of Public Affairs

Predicted Probabilities of Voting by Politicized Church Turing to the effects of African American group based attitudes on turnout, ii appears that linked fate is not a significant predictor (Table 1). However, Africar Americans group efficacy was significant at the .05 level. Figure 3 displays the predictec probabilities of voting for the various levels of African Americans group efficacy. It show: that a change from no group efficacy to the highest level of group efficacy increases the likelihood of voting by 20.9 percentage points (84.2-63.3), indicating a substantial impac on the voter turnout of African Americans. This finding provides us with additional evidence that group based heuristic approaches are important in studying the political behavior of African Americans. Ralph Bunche Journal of Public Affairs

Difference = 0.209 probabilities for voting at various their means. The predicted probabi instance, between grade school and Predictably, education also affects turnout. Figure 4 displays the predicte educational levels while holding all other variables « ities show that going from a grade school education to professional or doctorate degree increases the likelihood of voting by 40.2 percentage point 96.7 - 56.5). The greatest increases in turnout occur in the earlier stages of education. Fc high school graduates, there is about a 17 percentag point difference in probability of voting as well as approximately a 16 percentage poir difference between a person with a high school degree and a baccalaureate degree. Th substantive increases become smal er for levels of education higher than a baccalaureat degree. This suggests that while people with higher educations are most likely to vot across the board, perhaps the earlier stages of education are most influential.

Difference = 0.209 probabilities for voting at various their means. The predicted probabi instance, between grade school and Predictably, education also affects turnout. Figure 4 displays the predicte educational levels while holding all other variables « ities show that going from a grade school education to professional or doctorate degree increases the likelihood of voting by 40.2 percentage point 96.7 - 56.5). The greatest increases in turnout occur in the earlier stages of education. Fc high school graduates, there is about a 17 percentag point difference in probability of voting as well as approximately a 16 percentage poir difference between a person with a high school degree and a baccalaureate degree. Th substantive increases become smal er for levels of education higher than a baccalaureat degree. This suggests that while people with higher educations are most likely to vot across the board, perhaps the earlier stages of education are most influential.

Age is significant at the .001 level and a graph of the predicted probabilities can be found in Figure 5. The results are consistent with the findings of other scholars about age in that they suggest that older African Americans are more likely to vote than their younge1 counterparts. The predicted probabilities indicate that holding all other variables at theit means, the youngest African Americans, those between the age of 18 and 24 are 26 percentage points less likely to vote than the oldest category of African Americans, those that are 65 or older. Thus, these findings reinforce the findings of earlier work done on age differences in turnout among African Americans; older African Americans are more likely to vote than their younger counterparts (Gurin et al. 1989; Walton 1985). Ralph Bunche Journal of Public Affairs

Age is significant at the .001 level and a graph of the predicted probabilities can be found in Figure 5. The results are consistent with the findings of other scholars about age in that they suggest that older African Americans are more likely to vote than their younge1 counterparts. The predicted probabilities indicate that holding all other variables at theit means, the youngest African Americans, those between the age of 18 and 24 are 26 percentage points less likely to vote than the oldest category of African Americans, those that are 65 or older. Thus, these findings reinforce the findings of earlier work done on age differences in turnout among African Americans; older African Americans are more likely to vote than their younger counterparts (Gurin et al. 1989; Walton 1985). Ralph Bunche Journal of Public Affairs

This research explored the factors that impact the voting behavior of African Americans. The findings from the voter turnout model presented in Table 1 lend support to the participation literature in that both mobilization variables (politicized church and party contacting), positively impact voter tumout among African Americans. Further, African Americans group efficacy also exerts significant influence on voter turnout. This is important because other scholars have posited that group based efficacy existed, but little empirical work has been done to confirm that African Americans group-based efficacy actually influences voting (Koch 1995; Gurin et al. 1989; Grafstein 1991). Further, this research provides evidence for the first time that both politicized

This research explored the factors that impact the voting behavior of African Americans. The findings from the voter turnout model presented in Table 1 lend support to the participation literature in that both mobilization variables (politicized church and party contacting), positively impact voter tumout among African Americans. Further, African Americans group efficacy also exerts significant influence on voter turnout. This is important because other scholars have posited that group based efficacy existed, but little empirical work has been done to confirm that African Americans group-based efficacy actually influences voting (Koch 1995; Gurin et al. 1989; Grafstein 1991). Further, this research provides evidence for the first time that both politicized

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