
August 2005
How do morals, race, and ethnicity affect voting?
Voting research presented at the American Sociological Association Centennial Meeting ?
PHILADELPHIA, PA--Research on the values and ethnicity of voters and how that affects their voting behavior will be presented at the American Sociological Association's (ASA) 100th Annual Meeting. The convention, with its theme of "Comparative Perspectives, Competing Explanations: Accounting for the Rising and Declining Significance of Sociology," will convene August 13-16 at the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel and the Loews Philadelphia Hotel.
At a session on "Voting and Electoral Processes," four research papers on racial and ethnic voting behaviors, social structure vs. values in candidate preferences, and the historical context of incumbents will be presented on August 13 at 2:30 p.m. at the Philadelphia Loews Hotel. The topics to be addressed include: - The differences in voting behavior among U.S. Latinos of different national origin and non-Latinos demonstrate that political involvement varies by race/ethnic background and that the political participation of Latinos of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban descent differs in several key ways.
- Values scales (traditional/secular-rational values and survival/self-expression values), as well as "moral visions' (absolutism/relativism), are significantly related to voting, party identification, and political ideology in American politics.
- Race, class, and gender identities are salient in the structure of voting behavior when the Voting Rights Act is applied to rectify Latina/o underrepresentation.
- The 2004 election in a historical perspective--when do incumbent presidents lose their bid for re-election?
At the ASA meeting, more than 550 sessions will be held on a wide range of topics including a course on "Sociological Work on Global Warming and Climate Change," a plenary on the "Social Implications and Aftermath of the Tsunami," a special session on "Women and Science: Responses to the Summers' Controversy," and a thematic on "Can Sociology Explain Rising Inequality." The latest sociological research on the uninsured in America, education, social security, religion, homosexuality, popular culture, and more will also be presented. The searchable program and the PDF version of the preliminary program are posted on the meeting website at www.asanet.org/convention/2005/.
Journalists are invited to attend all Annual Meeting events. Press facilities will be located at the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel. For more information on the presentations, the meeting in general, or for assistance reaching researchers, contact Johanna Olexy or Lee Herring at the ASA Press Office at (202) 247-9871, [email protected].
The American Sociological Association, currently celebrating its centennial year, is a non-profit membership association dedicated to serving sociologists in their work, advancing sociology as a science and profession, and promoting the contributions and use of sociology to society.