Collaborative Research: Electoral Systems, Suburbanization, and Representation

解决地方政府中选民代表性问题的一个传统解决方案是废除大型多成员选区，并创建较小的单一获胜者选区，其中一些选区旨在涵盖少数族裔社区。虽然这种传统的补救措施在某些情况下可能会有所帮助，但在快速变化的大都市地区，它很可能不起作用。这样的地区很常见，因为居民往返于市中心和郊区。一些郊区变得异质化，而另一些则变得同质化。在这种情况下，由于候选人征聘的性质，建立较小/单一获胜者选区的传统补救办法可能适得其反，限制对已查明的代表性问题采取潜在补救办法的效力。本研究探讨了在持续的郊区化和绅士化背景下实现少数群体代表性的条件。这项研究还将通过方便用户的网络界面向研究人员和公众提供大量精细数据。 该研究探讨了在持续的郊区化和绅士化背景下实现描述性和实质性代表性的条件，特别关注用于地方治理的两个最重要的选举制度：多席位的广大和单一成员的地区多元化。 具体而言，该项目将包括一个大规模的数据收集工作，结合人口统计学，候选人的特点，制度结构，和政策成果的88个市和22个学区从1970年到现在。项目小组将对选民、当选官员和过去的候选人进行代表性调查。将对数据进行分析，以确定少数群体竞选地方公职并取得成功的条件，以及描述性代表性导致实质性代表性的条件。随着保护少数群体投票权和代表权的历史悠久的工具被法院宣布无效，这些数据将为全国许多城市地区的新改革努力提供关键证据。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

One traditional solution to electoral concerns about constituent representation in local government is to abolish large multi-member districts and create smaller, single-winner electoral districts, some of which are designed to encompass minority neighborhoods. While this traditional remedy might help under some conditions, there is a strong possibility that it may not work as well in rapidly changing metro areas. Such areas are common, as residents migrate to and from city centers and suburban neighborhoods. Some suburban areas have become heterogeneous, while others have become homogeneous. In such contexts, because of the nature of candidate recruitment, the traditional remedy of creating smaller/single-winner districts could backfire and limit the effectiveness of potential remedy for identified representational concern. This study explores the conditions under which minority representation can be achieved in the context of ongoing suburbanization and gentrification. The study will also make a wealth of fine-grained data available to researchers and members of the public through a user-friendly web interface. The study explores the conditions under which descriptive and substantive representation can be achieved in the context of ongoing suburbanization and gentrification, paying special attention to two of the most important electoral systems used for local governance: multi-seat at-large and single-member district plurality. Specifically, the project will include a large-scale data collection effort combining population demographics, candidate characteristics, institutional structure, and policy outcomes for 88 municipalities and 22 school districts from 1970 to the present. The project team will conduct representative surveys of voters, elected officials, and past candidates. Data will be analyzed to identify the conditions under which minorities run for local office and are successful as well as the conditions under which descriptive representation leads to substantive representation. As time-honored tools for protecting minority voting rights and representation are being invalidated by courts, these data will provide crucial evidence regarding new reform efforts relevant to many urban areas around the country.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.