Registering the Poor to Vote: Lessons from the 1984 General Election

Authors

Ira Colby, University of Texas, Arlington

Abstract

Voter registration and educational programs for the poor and moderate income groups were a dominant political strategy embraced by a number of social welfare organizations during the 1984 general election. This article reviews one such project that registered 4,124 individuals and implemented a follow-up survey of 500 new registrants. Based on the survey, the author identifies a number of voting and nonvoting behaviors that should be considered in future voter registration and education projects. The author also identifies critical policy issues that impede voter participation among the poor.

Recommended Citation

Colby, Ira (1987) "Registering the Poor to Vote: Lessons from the 1984 General Election," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 14: Iss. 3, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.1820
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol14/iss3/3