Voter Registration Drives and Turnout: A Report on the Harlem Electorate
In 1976, as in previous election years, intensive voter registration drives were conducted in black communities across the country. In some instances, this was part of a perennial process, with money, in varying amounts, supplied by the political parties, labor unions, special solicitation, foundations, and community groups. Invariably, there are reports of the "success" of such drives, measured in terms of how many new registrants are -added to the rolls. There has not been, however, an account of the effectiveness of these drives, measured in terms of actual turnout of the newly registered on election day. This is a report on the turnout of 1007 newly registered voters in central Harlem in the general presidential election in November 1976. It examines differences in age, sex, and class; whether or not the new registrants voted before in New York State; and differences between those who registered by mail and those who registered in person. This was the first election in New York State after the passage of legislation permitting registration by mail.