An Experimental Test of Mobilization Effects in a Latino Community

Richard E. Matland, Gregg R. Murray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article describes a field experiment designed to test the efficacy of get-out-the-vote (GOTV) techniques in a new context and for an understudied population. It evaluates the effectiveness of nonpartisan GOTV messages delivered via personal contact and mail in a heavily Latino community during the 2004 presidential campaign. It proposes and tests an alternative model of voter turnout based on Zaller's receive-accept-sample model of public opinion. The findings are consistent with the authors' predictions; mobilization efforts increase turnout, but mobilization effects vary across citizens based on their propensity to vote. There is a large increase among episodic voters but little increase among habitual or registered nonvoters.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)192-205
Number of pages14
JournalPolitical Research Quarterly
Volume65
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • elections and voting behavior
  • ethnicity
  • political methodology
  • politics
  • public opinion and political participation
  • race

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science

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