CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH CENTER FOR rPOLICY Vote r E m p owe m e nt aANALYSIS n d B l a c k AND Ci v i cRESEARCH E n ga ge m e nt Vote r E m p owe r m e nt a n d B l a c k Ci v i c E n ga ge m e nt
Desireé Solomon, Research Analyst Manager | September 2023
Fact Sheet
A Tale of 10 Black Cities Black Voter Engagement in 2020 Elections VOTER INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Black Americans have the power to influence their communities and community systems through their vote. The Black vote in the United States has grown as a pillar of influence, especially in close, decisive, and consequential elections. These fact sheets depict the power of the Black vote in cities with the largest Black populations across the United States, and voter engagement the 2020 election. These fact sheets also include an Informed Voter Toolkit with information about new voting and election laws and other voting resources.
Acknowledgement: This research was conducted in partnership with Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean and Fair Count and acknowledges the Voting Rights Lab for their meticulous tracking of voting rights legislation across the nation.
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH Vote r E m p owe r m e nt a n d B l a c k Ci v i c E n ga ge m e nt
Detroit, MI BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
33%
30%
At the time of the 2020 election, Detroit was
22%
78% BLACK.1
15%
247,395 Detroiters voted in the election.
218,138
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races
Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however,
According to recent population estimates, the Black population in Detroit is on the rise. Leverage your voting power to create community change.
ONLY 52%
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
of Black registered voters participated in the election.
• Election Day Resources: Vote in Person: Where to Go & What to Expect
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• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Michigan State Voting Rights Tracker • Redistricting Process & Information: Detroit Redistricting Commission
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Detroit City Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/detroitcitymichigan
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Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
cbcfinc.org
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH Vote r E m p owe r m e nt a n d B l a c k Ci v i c E n ga ge m e nt
Atlanta, GA BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
19.67% 21.69%
At the time of the 2020 election, Atlanta was
50.93%
49% BLACK.3
7.72%
241,168 Atlanta residents voted in the election.
99,681
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races
Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however,
According to recent population estimates, the Black population in Atlanta is on the rise. Leverage your voting power to create community change.
ONLY 48%
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
of Black registered voters participated in the election.
• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
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• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Geogia State Voting Rights Tracker • Redistricting Process & Information: Georgia General Assembly
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Atlanta City Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/atlantacitygeorgia
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Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
cbcfinc.org
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH Vote r E m p owe r m e nt a n d B l a c k Ci v i c E n ga ge m e nt
Washington, D.C. At the time of the 2020 election, D.C. was
BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
49% BLACK.5
21.62% 13.51%
343,320 Washingtonians voted in the election.
54.56%
152,561 of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however,
10.31%
ONLY 62%
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of Black registered voters participated in the election.
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races
Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
Leverage your voting power to create community change.
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT: • Election Day Resources: Voter Information • Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab District of Columbia State Voting Rights Tracker • Redistricting Process & Information: Chairman-Appointed Subcommittee and Ward-Specific Redistricting Taskforces
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Washington, D.C. Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/DC
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Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
cbcfinc.org
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH Vote r E m p owe r m e nt a n d B l a c k Ci v i c E n ga ge m e nt
Philadelphia, PA BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
18.57% 6.72%
58.50%
At the time of the 2020 election, Atlanta was
49% BLACK.7
16.21%
343,320 Philadelphians voted in the election.
152,561
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races
Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
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of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc
Leverage your voting power to create community change.
WITH 73%
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
of Black registered voters participating in the election.
• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
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• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Pennsylvania State Voting Rights Tracker • Redistricting Process & Information: Legislative Reapportionment Commission
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U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Phildadelphia City Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/
philadelphiacitypennsylvania
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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Philadelphia County Data.
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Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
cbcfinc.org
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH Vote r E m p owe r m e nt a n d B l a c k Ci v i c E n ga ge m e nt
New York, NY BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
7.19% 5.98%
68.82% At the time of the 2020 election, NYC was
31% BLACK.10
18.02%
2,748,322 NYC residents voted in the election.
599,066 of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however,
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races
Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
Leverage your voting power to create community change.
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
ONLY 55%
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• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
of Black registered voters participated in the election.
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab New York State Voting Rights Tracker • Redistricting Process & Information: New York Independent Redistricting Commission
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U.S. Census Bureau 2019 New York City Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/
newyorkcitynewyork 11
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
cbcfinc.org
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH Vote r E m p owe r m e nt a n d B l a c k Ci v i c E n ga ge m e nt
Chicago, IL BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
11.47% 6.72%
70.80% At the time of the 2020 election, Chicago was
29% BLACK.12 11.01%
1,141,009 Chicagoans voted in the election.
314,955
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races
Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however,
Leverage your voting power to create community change.
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
ONLY 63%
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• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
of Black registered voters participated in the election.
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Illinois State Voting Rights Tracker • Redistricting Process & Information: Chicago City Council
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Chicago Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/chicagocityillinois
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Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
cbcfinc.org
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH Vote r E m p owe r m e nt a n d B l a c k Ci v i c E n ga ge m e nt
Dallas, TX BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
6.04% 4.05%
75.40% At the time of the 2020 election, Dallas was
25% BLACK.14 14.51%
422,108 Dallas residents voted in the election.
81,200
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races
Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
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of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however,
Leverage your voting power to create community change.
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
ONLY 60%
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• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
of Black registered voters participated in the election.
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Texas State Voting Rights Tracker • Redistricting Process & Information: Texas Legislative Redistrcting Board
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Dallas Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dallascitytexas
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Dallas County Data
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Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
cbcfinc.org
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH Vote r E m p owe r m e nt a n d B l a c k Ci v i c E n ga ge m e nt
Houston, TX BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
5.88% 3.59%
At the time of the 2020 election, Houston was
76.94%
23% BLACK.
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13.59%
703,325 Houston residents voted in the election.
136,382
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of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however,
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races
Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
Leverage your voting power to create community change. THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
ONLY 62%
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• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
of Black registered voters participated in the election.
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Texas State Voting Rights Tracker • Redistricting Process & Information: Texas Legislative Redistrcting Board
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U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Houston Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/houstoncitytexas/
PST045221
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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Houston County Data
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Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
cbcfinc.org
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH Vote r E m p owe r m e nt a n d B l a c k Ci v i c E n ga ge m e nt
Miami, FL BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
4.98% 3.16%
84.35% At the time of the 2020 election, Miami was
23% BLACK.20 7.51%
161,408 Miami residents voted in the election.
23,292
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races
Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
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of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however,
Leverage your voting power to create community change. THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
ONLY 61%
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• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
of Black registered voters participated in the election.
• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab Florida State Voting Rights Tracker • Redistricting Process & Information: Miami-Dade County Legislature and Local Jurisdictions
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U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Miami Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/
miamicityflorida/PST045221
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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Miami-Dade County Data
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Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
cbcfinc.org
CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH Vote r E m p owe r m e nt a n d B l a c k Ci v i c E n ga ge m e nt
Los Angeles, CA BLACK VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN 2020 ELECTION
2.54% 1.86%
92.10% At the time of the 2020 election, Los Angeles was
8% BLACK.23 3.50%
1,578,136 LA residents voted in the election.
100,895
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of these voters were Black, an impactful voting bloc; however,
Black Voters
Black Registered but Did not Vote
Other Races
Black Unregistered *
Note* Unregistered voter data above includes disenfranchised voters, and Black citizens under the age of 18.
According to recent population estimates, the Black population in Los Angeles is on the rise. Leverage your voting power to create community change.
ONLY 58%
THE INFORMED VOTER TOOLKIT:
of Black registered voters participated in the election.
• Election Day Resources: Voter Information
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• Changes in Legislation: Voting Rights Lab California State Voting Rights Tracker • Redistricting Process & Information: Citizens Redistricting Commission
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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U.S. Census Bureau 2019 Los Angeles Data https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/losangelescitycalifornia
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Los Angeles County Data
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Up to 10% deviation due to differing state reporting requirements.
cbcfinc.org
ENDNOTES Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, (2020). Election Results: 2020 General Election. https://chicagoelections.gov/en/election-resultsspecifics.asp Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, (2022). Voting. https://www.chicagoelections.gov/en/voting.html Coleman, A., (2020). Atlanta Progressive News. Voter Turnout Remained Low in Some Parts of Atlanta, Even During Presidential Election. https://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2020/11/20/voter-turnout-remained-low-in-some-parts-of-atlanta-even-during-presidential-election/ Department of State, (2020). 2020 Presidential Election. https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/ GeneralSummaryResults?ElectionID=83&ElectionType=G&IsActive=0 Detroit City government, (2020). Election Results. https://detroitmi.gov/webapp/election-results Detroit Michigan Election Office, (2020). City of Detroit Election Office, Election Summary Report November 3, 2020- General Election Detroit, Michigan Official Results. https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/2020-11/November%202020%20Election%20Summary%20 Report%20Signed%20Copy.pdf District of Columbia Board of Elections, (2020). Voters. https://www.dcboe.org/Voters/Register-To-Vote/Register-to-Vote# District of Columbia Board of Elections, (2020). General Election 2020- Certified Results. https://electionresults.dcboe.org/election_ statistics/2020-General-Election Georgia Secretary of State, (2022). Elections. https://sos.ga.gov/elections-division-georgia-secretary-states-office Los Angeles Almanac, (2020). Election Turnout Los Angeles County. http://www.laalmanac.com/election/el02.php Los Angeles County Government, (2021). Los Angeles Redistricting. https://redistricting.lacounty.gov Los Angeles County, (2020) Registrar-Recorder County Clerk. General Election. https://results.lavote.gov/#year=2020&election=4193 Miami City Government, (2022). November 3, 2020 General Election Information. https://www.miamigov.com/My-Government/Departments/ City-Clerks-Office/November-3-2020-General-Election-Information Miami Dade County Government, (2022). Voter Information. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_ service=ser151187731708822 Michigan Department of State, (2022). Voter Information Center, Vote in Person. https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Home/VoteInPerson/#id-required Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, (2022). https://www.michigan.gov/micrc New York City Campaign Finance Board, (2021). Voter Analysis Report: 2020. https://www.nyccfb.info/pdf/2020-2021_Voter-Analysis-Report.pdf Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, (2022). Department Reports and Data. https://www.philadelphiavotes.com/en/resources-a-data/ reports-and-publications.html Pennsylvania Department of State, (2022). DOS Voting & Election Information. Voting in PA. https://www.vote.pa.gov/Voting-in-PA/Pages/ Voting-at-a-Polling-Place.aspx Pennsylvania Department of State, (2022). Pennsylvania Redistricting. https://www.redistricting.state.pa.us Texas Secretary of State, (2020). Dallas County Voter Registration Figures. https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/historical/dallas.shtml Texas Secretary of State, (2020). Harris County Voter Registration Figures. https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/historical/harris.shtml United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Dallas city, Texas. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dallascitytexas United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Atlanta city, Georgia. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/atlantacitygeorgia United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Chicago city, Illinois. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/chicagocityillinois United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Los Angeles city, California. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/losangelescitycalifornia United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Detroit city, Michigan. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/detroitcitymichigan United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts District of Columbia. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/DC United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Houston city, Texas. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ houstoncitytexas/PST045221 United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Los Angeles city, California. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/losangelescitycalifornia
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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ENDNOTES United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Miami city, Florida. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/miamicityflorida/PST045221 United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts New York city, New York. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/newyorkcitynewyork United States Census Bureau, (2019). QuickFacts Philadelphia city, Pennsylvania. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/ philadelphiacitypennsylvania Voting Rights Lab, (2022). State Voting Rights Tracker. https://tracker.votingrightslab.org/states
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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Fact Sheet: A Tale of 10 Black Cities
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