blog post PPIC Polling and the Immigration Debate By Mark Baldassare Sep 13, 2017 While the country is politically divided on immigration issues, the PPIC Statewide Survey has found some bipartisan agreement in California.
Explainer Race and Diversity in the Golden State By Hans Johnson, Eric McGhee, Carolyn Subramaniam, Vicki Hsieh Oct 2, 2023 California is one of the most diverse states in the nation, but disparate outcomes persist across and within racial groups.
Fact Sheet 2020 Census: The Political Impact on California By Joseph Hayes Mar 22, 2019 An undercount in the 2020 Census could cost California a congressional seat and shift political representation away from low-income communities of color.
Report What to Expect from California’s New Motor Voter Law By Eric McGhee, Mindy Romero Jun 15, 2016 In 2015, California passed major legislation to increase the state’s voter rolls by simplifying the voter registration process. Under the New Motor Voter Act, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will electronically transmit information about DMV customers who are eligible to vote to the California Secretary of State, which will add eligible customers to the voter rolls unless they opt out. We find that this law has the potential to significantly alter the demographic composition of the California electorate, making the population of registered voters more representative of the state as a whole. Our estimates also suggest that the new system may rapidly expand the voter rolls, adding more than 2 million new registrants in the first year. Key implementation issues will decide the impact of the New Motor Voter Act. To ensure the law’s success, the state should require DMV customers to attest to their eligibility to vote as a precondition for completing their transaction. It will also be necessary to mobilize new registrants aggressively if they are to become new voters.
Report Immigrants and Local Governance: The View from City Hall By Paul Lewis, Karthick Ramakrishnan Jun 9, 2005 More than one-quarter of California residents are foreign-born. Yet, very little is known about the effects of immigration on public policymaking and representation at the local level. In this report, the authors address three major questions. First, how do municipal officials become aware of the needs and preferences of immigrant populations? Second, how do they attempt to communicate city policies to their immigrant constituents, many of whom do not speak English? Third, how – if at all – does the presence of immigrants alter the policies and routines of city government?
Report Labor Force Participation in California By Julien Lafortune, Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Jenny Duan ... Feb 14, 2024 California’s labor force participation is shrinking, mainly because of an aging population. But significant gaps across demographic groups are also a concern. How can California remove barriers to work, boost participation, and build a strong workforce for years to come?
