Clark Precinct AnalysisClark Precinct AnalysisPLAP 430 Fall 2004 PLAP 430 Fall 2004

Nikeita LeaNikeita Lea, , Dawn Miller, Vinh Nguyen, and Dawn Miller, Vinh Nguyen, and Rishi RoyRishi Roy

The Effect of Socio-Economic The Effect of Socio-Economic Status on Political Status on Political

Participation Participation

Clark Precinct: LocationClark Precinct: Location

Democrat

Republican

Bar/Shop

Church

Commercial

Zone

Trailer

Park

Halloween Decorations

Keep Out

Polling

site

Field ObservationsField Observations Democratic Signs (Kerry/Edwards and Weed)Democratic Signs (Kerry/Edwards and Weed)

127127

Republican Signs (Bush/Cheney and Goode)Republican Signs (Bush/Cheney and Goode)

88

Halloween DecorationsHalloween Decorations

221221

No Trespassing and Keep Out Signs No Trespassing and Keep Out Signs

88

Clark Precinct Clark Precinct

Community OverviewCommunity Overview

Clark Precinct Clark Precinct Community OverviewCommunity Overview

The architectural spans of The architectural spans of many of these many of these neighborhoods date back neighborhoods date back to the late 1800s until to the late 1800s until present day. In many areas present day. In many areas there are multi-family there are multi-family dwellings, which include dwellings, which include apartment complexes and apartment complexes and

condominiumscondominiums. . The The neighborhoods are well neighborhoods are well organized with homes organized with homes placed close together placed close together

Clark Precinct Clark Precinct Community OverviewCommunity Overview

The Clark Precinct is home to a variety of public and semi-public The Clark Precinct is home to a variety of public and semi-public community facilities. These varied and diverse facilities contribute to the community facilities. These varied and diverse facilities contribute to the quality of life for residents as well as the overall quality of the quality of life for residents as well as the overall quality of the communities. A few of the facilities would include schools, parks, communities. A few of the facilities would include schools, parks, churches, cultural centers, libraries, etc. The main one in this area Clark churches, cultural centers, libraries, etc. The main one in this area Clark Elementary SchoolElementary School

Clark Elementary School

Clark Precinct Clark Precinct Community OverviewCommunity Overview

StreetStreet Real Estate value of home:Real Estate value of home:Avon Avenue:Avon Avenue:

201 Avon Ave.201 Avon Ave. $159,300$159,300215 Avon Ave.215 Avon Ave. $273,000$273,000300 Avon Ave.300 Avon Ave. $87,200$87,200309 Avon Ave.309 Avon Ave. $153,200$153,200

Monticello AvenueMonticello Avenue604 Monticello Ave.604 Monticello Ave. $114,900$114,900606 Monticell Ave.606 Monticell Ave. $152,900$152,900613 Monticello Ave.613 Monticello Ave. $94,800$94,800726 Monticelle Ave.726 Monticelle Ave. $251,300$251,300800 Monticello Ave.800 Monticello Ave. $214,700$214,700801 Monticello Ave.801 Monticello Ave. $188,300$188,300803 Monticello Ave.803 Monticello Ave. $175,600$175,600

6th Street6th Street108 6th St NW108 6th St NW $259,900$259,900113 6th St NW113 6th St NW $303,800$303,800205 6th St NW205 6th St NW $129,500$129,500504 6th St SE504 6th St SE $107,500$107,500800 6th St SE800 6th St SE $109,200$109,200909 6th St SE909 6th St SE $100,600$100,6001003 6th St SE1003 6th St SE $87,700$87,700

Clark Precinct Clark Precinct Community OverviewCommunity Overview

The majority of homes located on a single street The majority of homes located on a single street vary tremendously in real estate value. WHY???? vary tremendously in real estate value. WHY????

• There has been a recent boom in home refinancing in There has been a recent boom in home refinancing in Charlottesville in the last few years because of TaxCharlottesville in the last few years because of Tax Abatement for Revitalized Housing Program.Abatement for Revitalized Housing Program.

• Increased incentive refinance homes because Increased incentive refinance homes because qualified qualified residents receive tax exemptions for home improvements. residents receive tax exemptions for home improvements.

• Value of homes recently increasing $50,000 to $100,000Value of homes recently increasing $50,000 to $100,000

Election Results for Charlottesville: Election Results for Charlottesville: 2004, 2000 and 19962004, 2000 and 1996

Presidential Election Results

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2004 2000 1996

Other

Republican

Democrat

5th Congressional District Election Results

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2004 2000 1996

Other

Republican

Democrat

Source: Virginia State Board of Elections

Most Important IssuesMost Important Issuesfor Clark Votersfor Clark Voters

Iraq/Afghanistan 36.1%Iraq/Afghanistan 36.1%

Negative Bush 10.3%Negative Bush 10.3%

Terrorism and Homeland Security 8.2%Terrorism and Homeland Security 8.2%

Health 7.2%Health 7.2%

Comparing Presidential ResultsComparing Presidential Results2004 Presidential Results

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Kerry/Edwards

Bush/Cheney

Why is Clark more Democratic than Charlottesville, Virginia and the Nation?

Racial CompositionRacial Composition

Racial Composition of Clark Precinct

1%

2%

19%

78%

Asian

Hispanic

Black

White

Racial Composition of Charlottesville

5%

3%

22%

70%

Asian

Hispanic

Black

White

Source: US Census 2000

Clark Voters’ Religious AffiliationClark Voters’ Religious Affiliation

Protestant, 15.5

Evangelical, 0.8

Catholic, 3.9

Jewish, 3.1

Buddhist, 1.6

Other, 15.5

none, 33.3

none listed, 26.4

Protestant

Evangelical

Catholic

Jewish

Buddhist

Other

none

none listed

Clark vs. other Charlottesville PrecinctsClark vs. other Charlottesville PrecinctsUnemployment Rate

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

Tonsler Venable Carver Clark Walker

Tonsler

Venable

Carver

Clark

Walker

Source: US Census 2000

Clark vs. other Charlottesville Precincts Clark vs. other Charlottesville Precincts

Per Capita Income in 1999

$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

Tonsler Venable Clark Carver Walker

Tonsler

Venable

Clark

Carver

Walker

Source: US Census 2000

Do Wealthier Precincts Vote at Higher Rates Do Wealthier Precincts Vote at Higher Rates than Less Wealthy Precincts?than Less Wealthy Precincts?

Entire Precinct Income and Voter Turnout

05

1015202530354045

Tonsler Venable Clark Carver WalkerPer

cent

Vot

ing

and

"Inc

ome

Sco

res"

Income Score

% Turnout

Source: US Census 2000 and Charlottesville Registrar

YES: There was a generally positive relationship between mean precinct income and voter turnout.

Are Voters Wealthier than Non-Are Voters Wealthier than Non-Voters?Voters?

Income: Voters vs. Precinct as a Whole

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Tonsler Venable Clark Carver Walker

Mea

n V

ote

r In

com

e S

core

Voter Income

Census Income

Source: US Census and UVA Exit Poll

YES: Mean Voter Income Always Exceeded Mean Overall Income

Do Wealthier Individuals Donate Do Wealthier Individuals Donate More Often to Political Campaigns?More Often to Political Campaigns?

Donations to Political Campaigns

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

lt 25k 25 to50k

50 to75k

75 to100k

100 to200k

200k

Voters' Incomes

Per

cen

tag

e o

n In

com

e B

rack

et G

ivin

g D

on

atio

n

Cville

Clark

Source: UVA Exit Polling

Charlottesville: YES

Clark Precinct: Not necessarily.

Clark PrecinctClark Precinct John Kerry Campaign Donations John Kerry Campaign Donations

Clark PrecinctClark Precinct George Bush Campaign Donations George Bush Campaign Donations

Do Individuals with More Do Individuals with More Prestigious Prestigious OccupationsOccupations Vote at Higher Rates than do Vote at Higher Rates than do those with Less Prestigious Occupations?those with Less Prestigious Occupations?

Occupational Prestige: Voters vs. Total

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Prestige Score (10=highest, 3=lowest)

% o

f T

ota

l w

ith

th

is P

res

tig

e

Sc

ore Voter

Prestige

CensusPrestige

Source: US Census and UVA Exit Poll

YES: “Low occupational prestige” vote at disproportionately low rates.

“High occupational prestige” vote at disproportionately high rates.

Education from Polling Data versus Education from Polling Data versus Education from Census DataEducation from Census Data

Education, High School or Higher

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Carver Clark Tonsler Venable Walker

Pe

rr

ce

nt

ag

e

Voted in Election Census Data

Percentage reflects respondents whose listed age is 25 years or higher. The age was entered into the calculation because the U.S. Census Bureau information provided considered age as a factor. Their

data is based on respondents 25 years of age or higher.

Volunteer Time versus Volunteer Time versus Income LevelIncome Level

Volunteer Time/ Income

0

10

20

30

40

Carver Clark Tonsler Venable Walker

Yes to Volunteer IncomeFrom Polling

The higher the percentage shown for income, the higher the average income is in that particular precinct. The actual percentage number shown correlates with the chart in order to understand the actual average income of the particular precinct. The volunteer percentage correlates to the number of “yes” responses to the question of whether the person volunteered for a political campaign or not.

1010 Under Under $25 K$25 K

2020 $25K to $25K to $50K$50K

3030 $50K to $50K to $75K$75K

4040 $75K to $75K to $100K$100K

5050 $100K $100K to to $200K$200K

6060 $200K +$200K +

ConclusionsConclusions

Individuals with higher socio-Individuals with higher socio-economic prestige participate at economic prestige participate at higher rateshigher rates

The higher the education level, The higher the education level, increases the likelihood of political increases the likelihood of political participationparticipation

Volunteerism seems to be Volunteerism seems to be independent of income levelindependent of income level

Why does this matter?Why does this matter?

Low rates of participation from most lower Low rates of participation from most lower status citizens decreases politicians’ status citizens decreases politicians’ responsiveness to their needsresponsiveness to their needs

A A viciousvicious cycle: Politicians do not address cycle: Politicians do not address issues that are pertinent to low status issues that are pertinent to low status citizens. At the same time, low status citizens. At the same time, low status citizens are less likely to participate citizens are less likely to participate because they feel as if they are not because they feel as if they are not valued.valued.