CPR Seminar Series: Ying Shi

Ying Shi (Syracuse University) will present “Racial Disparities in Voter Turnout in the Aftermath of Shelby County v. Holder” as part of the CPR Seminar Series.

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 marginalized racial and ethnic groups. Despite ample research showing the enfranchising consequences of the original VRA, recent literature has not established a reversal of fortunes in the aftermath of Shelby.  We use a rich Census block-level dataset on voter behavior combined with sociodemographic attributes to document a decrease in turnout for Black, relative to White, individuals. We show a suggestive but less definitive decrease in Hispanic turnout. These effects are concentrated in counties with larger Black and Hispanic populations. Our findings on disenfranchisement underscore the urgency of documenting Shelby’s effects on not only political participation, but also economic and other dimensions of well-being.

For more information, please contact Alyssa Kirk.