Spatial segregation and voting behavior among Asian Americans in 2020 general election

Abstract

This article explores the link between residential segregation and political engagement among Asian American voters in New York City. Despite frequently being perceived as apolitical and concentrated in ethnic enclaves, Asian Americans constitute a diverse group. This paper investigates how multifaceted spatial isolation based on race, class, and partisan affiliation was associated with the likelihood of Asian American voters participating in the 2020 general election. We demonstrate that a monolithic view of Asian Americans perpetuates stereotypes of political passivity, but a closer examination of distinct ethnic groups reveals varied patterns of political engagement. For instance, Japanese Americans showed a high level of political engagement comparable to that of non-Hispanic whites. Our findings further indicate that spatial isolation across race, class, and partisan dimensions had varying impacts on political engagement.