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> Renters are politically invisible in the United States due to the economic situation. Given how razor thin election margins are, ~33% of the population is fa

> Renters are politically invisible in the United States due to the economic situation. Given how razor thin election margins are, ~33% of the population is far from a invisible class.

JumpCrisscross 3y ago
> ~33% of the population is far from a invisible class For a variety of reasons, "buying a home leads individuals to participate substantially more in local elections, on average" [1]. Outside New York City, which unsurprisingly has solid tenant protections, American renters do not vote as frequently. [1] https://andrewbenjaminhall.com/homeowner.pdf https://andrewbenjaminhall.com/homeowner.pdf
jandrese 3y ago
However, they are a class that is relatively easy to disenfranchise. In fact many already are since minorities who live in cities are far more likely to rent than the average suburban or rural voter and we already have plenty of systems in place to disenfranchise them.
- JumpCrisscross 3y ago
  > they are a class that is relatively easy to disenfranchise Correct. Dated, but related and a classic: "We find that neither demographic nor attitudinal attributes explain [people who have recently moved's] lower turnout. Instead, the requirement that citizens must register anew after each change in residence constitutes the key stumbling block in the trip to the polls. Since nearly one-third of the nation moves every two years, moving has a large impact on national turnout rates." The authors suggested "linking the maintenance of registration to an action that is usually an intrinsic part of moving" such as the "change-of-address notice at a local post office." Interestingly, "holding elections on Sunday, making election day a holiday, or extending the hours that the polls are open...are designed to facilitate people who are registered" and would thus "do little to improve turnout." https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/abs/residential-mobility-and-voter-turnout/101B4BBEE7BA0EC891E39CB76EDE4C49 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-s...

> Renters are politically invisible in the United States due to the economic situation. Given how razor thin election margins are, ~33% of the population is far from a invisible class.

JumpCrisscross 3y ago

> ~33% of the population is far from a invisible class For a variety of reasons, "buying a home leads individuals to participate substantially more in local elections, on average" [1]. Outside New York City, which unsurprisingly has solid tenant protections, American renters do not vote as frequently. [1] https://andrewbenjaminhall.com/homeowner.pdf https://andrewbenjaminhall.com/homeowner.pdf

jandrese 3y ago

However, they are a class that is relatively easy to disenfranchise. In fact many already are since minorities who live in cities are far more likely to rent than the average suburban or rural voter and we already have plenty of systems in place to disenfranchise them.

JumpCrisscross 3y ago
> they are a class that is relatively easy to disenfranchise Correct. Dated, but related and a classic: "We find that neither demographic nor attitudinal attributes explain [people who have recently moved's] lower turnout. Instead, the requirement that citizens must register anew after each change in residence constitutes the key stumbling block in the trip to the polls. Since nearly one-third of the nation moves every two years, moving has a large impact on national turnout rates." The authors suggested "linking the maintenance of registration to an action that is usually an intrinsic part of moving" such as the "change-of-address notice at a local post office." Interestingly, "holding elections on Sunday, making election day a holiday, or extending the hours that the polls are open...are designed to facilitate people who are registered" and would thus "do little to improve turnout." https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/abs/residential-mobility-and-voter-turnout/101B4BBEE7BA0EC891E39CB76EDE4C49 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-s...