- Collection:
- Atlanta University and Clark Atlanta University Theses and Dissertations
- Title:
- 1993 cumulative voting as the impetus for coalitions and electoral success in Alabama: the perspective of black Alabama candidates, 2002
- Creator:
- McBride, Frederick G.
- Date of Original:
- 2002-05-01
- Subject:
- Degrees, Academic
Dissertations, Academic - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- theses
dissertations - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- This study investigates the relationship between the cumulative voting method and political coalitions. This study is based on the premise that the incorporation of the cumulative voting method leads to coalitions where blacks are not only elected to office, but maintain electoral success. A survey instrument and interview were administered to candidates involved in cumulative voting elections (city council and county commissions) in Alabama jurisdictions. The researcher found that it was not a coalition that attributed to the success of minority candidates, but the cumulative voting system alone and black voter education and mobilization. The conclusions drawn from this research suggest that racially polarized voting, which prevents minorities from electing individuals of choice, is still prevalent in areas using cumulative voting. Techniques involving education, mobilization, and the effective use of plumping votes were beneficial to achieving minority electoral success. In Alabama, local elected officials utilizing the cumulative voting method gained electoral success with little white crossover voting and virtually no biracial coalition. The concept of cumulative voting practically allows voters to district themselves without the complication of a redistricting process every ten years. The effect of cumulative voting does resemble the single-member district concept, whereas there exists a high probability of success and benefits for the minority community, but the method is no panacea and guarantee for minority electoral success.
Date of award: 2002-05-01
Degree type: dissertation
Degree name: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Granting institution: Clark Atlanta University
Department: Department of Political Science
Advisor: Boone, William - Metadata URL:
- http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/cau.td:2002_mcbride_frederick_g
- Holding Institution:
- Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library
- Rights:
-
