environment

Intro text here.

tracking this goal:

Description of goals here.

diving deeper

race, income, and voter participation

When a person registers to vote, they provide certain information that can be directly connected to them when they cast a ballot — their address, age, and political party (if any). It is relatively simple to analyze voter participation trends connected to the age and political party of voters, and where they live. We can say with certainty “Velma Voter is 23 years old, lives in the Cully neighborhood, and voted in 2022.”

Analyzing voter participation trends connected to other characteristics is more challenging. Race, income, education, or homeownership status are not data collected on the voter registration form. So, analyzing voting trends related to these demographics requires gathering and analyzing data at the community level rather than the individual level.

We cannot say “Velma Voter is a lower income white homeowner.” Instead, we can say, “Velma Voter lives in the Cully neighborhood, which is a lower income and more racially diverse neighborhood in Portland. Overall voter turnout in that precinct is lower than in neighboring precincts.”

By the same token, we can say “Voter participation in lower income and more racially diverse neighborhoods is lower.” But we have to be careful about claiming “BIPOC voters are less likely to vote,” because we do not have data that link voting behavior and race at the individual level.

There are several ways researchers can strengthen observations about the relationship between demographic data like race or income with voter participation data. We’re working on some of this analysis, and should have it available in the coming months.

  • The 2021-22 Portland Charter Commission’s first desired outcome is a “participatory and growing democracy” with “more voices being heard in elections.”

    The Commission envisioned a future in which “more Portlanders vote and the electorate is more reflective of our entire community.”

  • Indicators if success include:

    1. Voter participation in local elections: We measure the percent of all registered Portland voters who vote in mayoral and city council contests. This metric offers insight into how many Portlanders participate in selecting local leaders.

    2. Overall voter turnout: Voter turnout is a measure of the percent of registered voters who vote for any candidate or issue on the ballot–from federal contests, like the President, to state and local ballot measures.

    Higher overall turnout and increased voter participation in local elections would indicate progress toward the goals established by the Charter Commission. 

    Based on recent voter history, we’re specifically looking for increased voter participation in a few areas:

    • Younger voters, who historically vote at a lower rate.

    • District 1 (East of SE 82nd Ave), where voters have historically voted at a lower rate.

    • More racially diverse precincts, where voters have historically voted at a lower rate.

    • As of 2024, Portland offices no longer have primary election contests. 

    • While the City of Portland will begin using ranked choice voting in 2024 for local elections, Multnomah County will not use ranked choice voting for county elections until 2026. 

    • Portland Elections created a map that overlays census tract demographic data with precinct-level data on voter turnout.

community connections

Community groups can help to increase voter turnout.

NextUp, for example, is a local organization that helps more young people get engaged in civic life with voter registration and voter education programs, and could help to bridge the age gap in turnout. Organizations that serve culturally specific communities, like the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) and Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) help to bride the gap in voter participation in communities of color.

Organizations like AARP and the League of Women Voters also help keep older adults engaged in civic life.