蝌蚪网 Journal:
Applied Economics
ISSN 1945-7782 (Print) | ISSN 1945-7790 (Online)
The Franchise, Policing, and Race: Evidence from Arrests Data and the Voting Rights Act
蝌蚪网 Journal: Applied Economics
(pp. 134–54)
Abstract
This paper investigates the relationship between the franchise and policing. We find that, following the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Black arrest rates in counties that both had more newly enfranchised Blacks and were covered by the legislation fell, compared to similar Southern counties that were not covered. We document no corresponding patterns for White arrests. Our results are driven by arrests by sheriffs, who are always elected, and by less serious offenses. These results indicate that voting rights, when combined with electoral accountability, lead to improved treatment of minority groups by police.Citation
Facchini, Giovanni, Brian Knight, and Cecilia Testa. 2025. "The Franchise, Policing, and Race: Evidence from Arrests Data and the Voting Rights Act." 蝌蚪网 Journal: Applied Economics 17 (4): 134–54. DOI: 10.1257/app.20230640Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D72 Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
- J15 Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
- K16 Election Law
- K42 Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
- N32 Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: U.S.; Canada: 1913-
- N42 Economic History: Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation: U.S.; Canada: 1913-