Minorities and Local Politics: A Study of Political Participation and Voting

When comparing the United States to other countries in the world, we are far more advanced in technology as well as healthcare and standard of living. Yes, in the United States we live a good life that is given to us, in part, by our government through the taxes that we pay. Our government provides funding for all the projects that go into the creation of the latest technology and products that makes our country cutting edge. So why, then, are we the country with one of the lowest voter turnout rates as well as overall low political participation rates? When considering the fact that on average only about half the population actually goes out to vote, we can conclude that minority participation is even less. United States citizens are becoming less politically involved than ever and when it comes to local politics, minority or not, it is virtually nonexistent. In this study, I will discuss why minorities need to be politically active, especially in local affairs, the factors that affect political participation in general, and how those factors relate to the issues facing minorities today. Then I will discuss voting behavior and leadership roles as well as their corresponding data.