Beyond Turnout
Examining the Impact of Shelby v. Holder on Latino Descriptive Representation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17819861 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Stephanie N Schmitt (0009-0009-6192-8834, Appalachian State University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-13 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-05 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Journal of Race Ethnicity and Politics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2056-6085 • E-ISSN: 2056-6085 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/rep.2026.10071 |
| OpenAlex | W7160264780 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 36 |
The Voting Rights Act (1965) protects minority voters’ ability to elect candidates of their choice, namely co-ethnic candidates. Historically, these protections were enforced through preclearance, which required federal approval of voting changes to prevent retrogression. The Supreme Court’s ruling in Shelby v. Holder (2013) eliminated preclearance, raising concerns about its impact. Existing research largely focuses on minority voter registration and turnout, often concluding that the ruling’s effects are less severe than expected. But is this too narrow a lens to view the implications of this Supreme Court ruling? This study shifts attention to minority descriptive representation, analyzing how Shelby v. Holder affected the number of Latinos elected to local offices. Using a Synthetic Difference-in-Differences approach and data from the National Association of Latino Elected Officials directory, I find that the ruling is associated with a decline in Latino descriptive representation. These findings highlight the need to consider representation beyond turnout and registration when evaluating policy impacts on minority voting rights
Association (psychology) · Descriptive research · Descriptive statistics · Representation (politics) · Supreme court · Voter registration · Voting · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Gender Politics and Representation · Judicial and Constitutional Studies
Strength in Numbers?
The Paradox of Representation
Synthetic Difference-in-Differences
Designing Difference in Difference Studies
Race, Redistricting, and Representation
Americans' Belief in Linked Fate
Háblame de tí
Disaggregating the Latina/o/x “umbrella”
Metropolitan Latino Political Behavior
Latinos and Substantive Representation in the U.S. House of Representatives
The Changing Impact of Electoral Structure on Black Representation in the South, 1970–1996
Does Ethnicity Matter? Descriptive Representation in Legislatures and Political Alienation Among Latinos
A Latino on the Ballot
Throwing Away the Umbrella
Can States Promote Minority Representation? Assessing the Effects of the California Voting Rights Act
"Should Blacks Represent Blacks and Women Represent Women? A Contingent "Yes
The Impact of At-Large Elections on the Representation of Blacks and Hispanics
Are We There Yet? The Voting Rights Act and Black Representation on City Councils, 1981–2006
The Impact of the Voting Rights Act on Black Representation in Southern State Legislatures
Race, Representation, and the Voting Rights Act
Voting Rights for Whom? Examining the Effects of the Voting Rights Act on Latino Political Incorporation
The New Racial Calculus
The Context Matters
Exploring Minority Empowerment
The Role of Race, Ethnicity, and Party on Attitudes Toward Descriptive Representation
Moving Forward or Backsliding
Race, Sociopolitical Participation, and Black Empowerment
The Effect of Black Congressional Representation on Political Participation
İSí Se Puede! Latino Candidates and the Mobilization of Latino Voters
The Limits of Preclearance
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |