Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Jacob Gooding. I am a second year political science and psychology student at Florida State University. I was born in Charleston, South Carolina, but have lived here in Tallahassee, Florida since 2015. My research focuses on the effects of the Supreme Court case Shelby County v. Holder on minority voter turnout in red states. My own research interests focus on the intersection of political science and psychology, or how our political decisions are shaped by our minds. After graduation I hope to pursue a masters and eventually a doctorate.

How Community Organizations Facilitate Democracy Post-Shelby County v. Holder

Abstract

This study focuses on a mid-size city in a Republican-controlled state in the southeastern United States, a region where voter suppression tactics were expected to be particularly aggressive during the 2024 election season, given its history of racialized voter suppression and the current political landscape. While much research has been conducted on voter mobilization strategies, there remains a significant gap in the literature specifically focused on how to effectively engage and mobilize marginalized voting populations. This research aims to address this gap by conducting an ethnographic examination of organizations and campaigns that work to enfranchise all voters. This research explores the strategies employed by organizations and campaigns to overcome the barriers that hinder voter participation. It seeks to answer critical questions: How do organizers address the conditions that most likely prevent individuals from exercising their right to vote? How do they access and engage racially or economically oppressed voters who are often disengaged? And how do canvassers help these individuals develop a civic identity? Through participant observation and semi-structured interviews, this project provides a nuanced understanding of the efforts and effectiveness of grassroots mobilization strategies in the post-Shelby County v. Holder era. By focusing on the lived experiences of both organizers and voters, particularly within economically oppressed communities, this research will contribute valuable insights into how to ensure a more inclusive and participatory democratic process for those who have been historically marginalized.

Keywords: elections, voting, civil engagement, sociology