Understanding the Rise of Unconventional Political Figures

Understanding the Rise of Unconventional Political Figures

Swinging the political pendulum, even for the disengaged masses, ain'trocket science. The truth is, the majority of folks in the U.S., who usually stay clear of the political arena, need a nudge. Research conducted by MIT political scientist Ariel White, who's all about shining a light on overlooked political players, can provide some valuable insights.

White takes a close look at a diverse range of topics, including the relationship between criminal histories and voting habits, people's interactions with government officials, and various factors, such as media exposure and income inequality, that can sway political participation.

Media headlines may steep you in the opinions of frequent voters residing in specific regions, but they pay little mind to the silent majority who rarely cast their ballots. To get a better grasp of American politics, understanding disengaged voters could be a game-changer.

"There's a much broader story to tell here," says White, an associate professor in MIT's Department of Political Science. With every study under her belt, White's research points to a more detailed narrative. She's found that even short jail terms for minor offenses can reduce the likelihood that people vote—and it also lowers the probability of family members voting as well. When individuals are convicted of felonies, they often forfeit the right to vote, yet they also tend to vote at low rates when they're eligible. Other studies from White suggest that an 8% minimum wage boost leads to an increase in turnout of approximately 0.3%, and that people receiving public aid are far less likely to vote than those who don't.

Although these topics often stir partisan debate, White thinks that the reality is more complex. As far as disconnected or infrequent voters go, we know too little to make assumptions about these matters.

"Registering disenfranchised people with past criminal convictions and getting them to vote isn't necessarily a political advantage for any single party," White explains. The reason, she believes, is that this demographic is more diverse than what people typically assume. Legislators often treat this as a partisan issue, but at the general public level, you see less polarization, and more people are willing to support a pathway for others to rejoin regular life.

Experiences that matter

White grew up near Rochester, New York, and studied economics and government at Cornell University. Working as an AmeriCorps-funded paralegal in a legal services office, which had a lasting impact on her perspective, sparked her interest in the nature of interactions between citizens and government officials.

"The way people's experiences, one-on-one with a person representing the government, in trying to secure benefits, really shapes their perceptions of how government will operate and perceive them, and what they can expect from the state," White says. "People's experiences with the government matter for what they do politically."

White was accepted into the doctoral program at Harvard University, where she earned an MA in 2012 and her Ph.D. in 2016. White joined the MIT faculty in 2016 and continues teaching there to this day.

White's first published paper, co-authored with Julie Faller and Noah Nathan, found that government officials tended to have varying levels of responsiveness when providing voting information to people of different ethnicities. It netted an award from the American Political Science Association. (Nathan now also teaches at MIT.)

Since then, White has published numerous papers revealing the factors influencing voting tendencies. For instance, a study in Pennsylvania revealed that public benefits recipients made up 20% of eligible voters in 2020 but only 12% of those who voted. When she's studied the criminal justice system, White has discovered that even short incarceration terms lead to a decrease in turnout among those incarcerated. Family members of such individuals are also less likely to vote in the short term but eventually become more active voters over time.

"Incarceration isn't typically associated with politics," White says. "Descriptively, people with a history of incarceration or criminal convictions, as well as individuals living in areas with plenty of this kind of activity, don't engage in much political action, and they vote at low levels. Given how widespread incarceration is in the U.S., it appears that it's one of the most common and impactful things the government can do. However, for a long time, it was left to sociology to explore this."

Connecting with people

Recognizing that citizens are less likely to vote in many circumstances, White's research has shifted to a related question: What are the best strategies for improving this situation? While no silver bullet is likely to trigger a surge in new voters, White has designed a field study this fall to explore how friends of unregistered voters could help register and motivate them. The findings of this study are yet to be announced.

"Political science and the realm of actual practicing political campaigns know a lot about getting registered voters to turn out to vote," White says. "However, we know very little about the 1 in 4 or so eligible voters who are simply not registered and are essentially political ghosts. Overwhelmingly, the group I'm interested in falls into that category."

White's classes are frequented by students with diverse academic interests but a shared interest in civic life. She hopes her students will leave her classes with a deeper understanding of their political landscape, as well as the tools for conducting well-executed empirical studies. Who knows? Like White herself, some of her students may find a career in political engagement and activism down the line.

"I really enjoy working with MIT students," White says. "I hope my students come away with some essential insights into political life, an understanding of social science research methods, and some big questions that they can take into the world, using them to craft their own futures."

Enrichment summary

The following strategies can help individuals who typically feel disconnected from the political system increase their engagement:

• Building Coalitions and Identifying Issues: Connecting with like-minded people and focusing on core concerns helps broaden support and increase impact on policy change.
• Targeting Key Decision-Makers: Understanding who has the power to influence policy allows for a more strategic approach to advocacy.
• Using Data and Evidence: Grounding advocacy in solid evidence and data helps build credibility with policymakers.
• Participating in Community Organizations: Community groups help bridge gaps in access and outreach, especially for young people and those who lack support from larger institutions.
• Peer-to-Peer Engagement: Relational organizing, where individuals are contacted by peers, is effective for motivating young people and those who might feel disconnected.
• Transparent and Continuous Communication: Building trust through clear, ongoing communication can help sustain engagement.

Ariel White's research, while not explicitly mentioning these strategies, emphasizes the influence of systemic factors, interactions with law enforcement, and access to participation on political engagement, especially for marginalized groups like people of color and low-income individuals. Her findings underscore the importance of improving transparency, procedural fairness, and access to participation to help disconnected citizens reconnect with the political process.

1. Researcher Ariel White's work on political participation highlights the need to consider the silent majority who rarely vote, a demographic that is often overlooked in media coverage.
2. White's research reveals that even short jail terms for minor offenses can decrease the likelihood of people voting and lower the probability of their family members voting as well.
3. Understanding disengaged voters could be a game-changer in getting a better grasp of American politics.
4. White believes that the criminal justice system, including incarceration, has a significant impact on political engagement but has historically been left to sociology to explore.
5. In her classes at MIT, White hopes her students will leave with a deeper understanding of their political landscape and the tools for conducting well-executed empirical studies.
6. Strategies for increasing engagement among disconnected citizens include building coalitions, targeting key decision-makers, using data and evidence, participating in community organizations, peer-to-peer engagement, and transparent and continuous communication.
7. White's research underscores the importance of improving transparency, procedural fairness, and access to participation for marginalized groups like people of color and low-income individuals in order to help disconnected citizens reconnect with the political process.
8. A more detailed narrative about American politics, as White suggests, requires a broader understanding of overlooked political players to move beyond the opinions of frequent voters residing in specific regions, which are often featured in media headlines.

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