Dear Equity Ally,
With ballot boxes in San Mateo County opening on October 7, election season is officially here! Key equity questions are contentiously discussed nationwide, including who can vote, how they register, how they vote, who turns out, and who is represented in office.
In this newsletter, we are introducing a new recurring feature of equity-related data. Overall, 75.2% of eligible voters in San Mateo County were registered for the 2020 election (the last presidential election), and 52% of eligible residents voted.
In the chart below, you can see in the chart the disproportionate representation in the major voting populations of Latinx (23% of eligible voters) and Asian Americans (28.3% of eligible voters) in San Mateo County. The 52% of San Mateo County eligible voters participating contrasts with the 35.2% of Latinx and 41.1% of Asian Americans who are eligible to vote that participated. This results in these two large populations within the county having underrepresentation at the ballot box.
Lower participation rates for voters of color are an issue nationwide. However, we are fortunate to have a County Registration & Elections Division that is dedicated to narrowing the gap. Between the 2016 and 2020 elections, participation rates among the Latinx population rose by almost 4% and 8% for Asian Americans.
Your participation in this election is critical so that your voice is represented. Learn more about how to register to vote, check your registration, and find a ballot drop-off in the resources below.
Office of Racial and Social Justice,
Andrew Knaack, Equity and Belonging Associate
Shireen Malekafzali Taidi, Chief Equity Officer
Belén Seara, Equity and Belonging Manager
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