With the 2020 election getting closer and a lower percentage of black Americans registered to vote relative to white Americans, WalletHub today released its report on the Best States for Racial Equality in Civic Engagement, along with accompanying videos and audio files.
In order to determine which states have the most racial equality in civic engagement, WalletHub compared 48 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics. Our data set compares the difference between white and black Americans in areas like the share of single-parent households, the volunteer rate and voter registration. Below, you can see highlights from the report, along with a WalletHub Q&A.
Racial Equality in Social & Civic Engagement in New Mexico (1=Most Equality; 25=Avg.):
- 2nd – Share of Single-Parent Households
- 17th – Share of Adult Population on Parole
- 1st – Share of Veterans
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-racial-equality-civic/76689/
Please let me know if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a phone, Skype or in-studio interview with one of our analysts. Full data sets for specific states are also available upon request. In addition, feel free to embed this YouTube video summarizing the study on your website, and to use or edit these raw files (audio & video) as you see fit.
Best,
Diana Polk
WalletHub Communications Manager
(202) 684-6386
WalletHub Q&A
How can we ensure that people of all races have the same opportunity for political participation?
“In order to make sure that people of all races have the same opportunity for political participation, we should start by making it easier to register to vote. One way to make registration easier is by having it be “opt-out” rather than “opt-in” so people are registered by default, which 16 states have already implemented,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “When it comes to Election Day, we should make sure that minorities have as much access to polling stations as white Americans, and we could consider making the day a federal holiday or at least extending voting hours so that everyone has the time to go vote.”
What can we do to ensure a good voter turnout this year despite COVID-19?
“The first step to ensuring a good voter turnout in November despite COVID-19 is to observe proper social distancing and mask use protocols as states reopen. If we can severely curb the spread of COVID-19 in the next few months, in-person voting may be more feasible. On Election Day, polling stations should be equipped to provide masks, hand sanitizer and gloves to anyone who needs them,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “In addition to trying to improve conditions so in-person voting can work, we should prepare for the worst and create a robust system for voting by mail for all Americans. We can also try to facilitate online voting, but the cybersecurity risks may make that a less viable option.”
Why is New Mexico the best state for racial equality in civic engagement?
“New Mexico is the best state for racial equality in civic engagement in part because it has almost no difference in the share of black people on parole relative to white people, which suggests the state may have less prejudice in its justice system,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “New Mexico has one of the smallest differences between the share of black single-parent households relative to white single-parent households, too.”
Why does Wisconsin rank last for racial equality in civic engagement?
“One reason why Wisconsin ranks last for racial equality in civic engagement is because it has one of the highest discrepancies between white and black voter turnout rate in the country, with nearly 26 percent more of the white population voting relative to the black population,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Wisconsin has the biggest gap between white and black volunteering in the country, with 22 percent more of the white population volunteering relative to the black population, which suggests minorities may have fewer opportunities.”
