The role of data

Political representation and participation is critical for building power and equity for communities of color in the United States. But data shows that elected officials often do not reflect the diversity of the communities they represent—and that systemic barriers to political participation, like voter suppression tactics, disproportionately limit the ability of marginalized people to make their voices heard through politics. Data on representation gaps in politics can show where it’s most critical to invest in candidates of color, and data can also inform where communities of color are most at risk of being left out of the political process in all its forms.

Why it matters

The U.S. is becoming increasingly diverse—yet our political leadership does not reflect the shifting demographics of the country. Data can call attention to the need to prioritize electing candidates of color at all levels of government. Advocacy organizations and policymakers also need data to develop strategies to ensure that people of color are fully included and represented in the political process, from voting to Census participation.