Voter restriction bills are more likely to pass in low-union-density states than in high-union-density states: Number of high-, medium-, and low-union-density states that have passed restrictive voting laws, 2011–2019

No voter restrictions Voter restrictions
Low 5 12
Medium 7 9
High 13 4

 

Notes: Union density is defined as the share of workers in the state who are represented by a union, including union members and other workers who are covered by a union contract, based on the variable “union” from EPI extracts of CPS-ORG microdata. Low-union-density states are the 17 states with the lowest average union densities from 2015–2019 (all less than 8%). Medium-union-density states are the 16 states (D.C. is not included in this chart) in the middle of the union-density rankings (with union densities ranging from 8.3% to 13.3%). High-union-density states are the 17 states with the highest average union densities from 2015–2019 (greater than or equal to 13.5%). See Table 1 for more detail about these groupings.

Union density is defined as the share of workers in the state who are represented by a union, including union members and other workers who are covered by a union contract, based on the variable “union” from EPI extracts of CPS-ORG microdata. Low-union-density states are the 17 states with the lowest average union densities from 2015–2019 (all less than 8%). Medium-union-density states are the 16 states (D.C. is not included in this chart) in the middle of the union-density rankings (with union densities ranging from 8.3% to 13.3%). High-union-density states are the 17 states with the highest average union densities from 2015–2019 (greater than or equal to 13.5%). See Table 1 for more detail about these groupings. We average union density data across 2015 to 2019 for each state to give a more accurate estimate of states’ typical unionization rates over time. We do not include data beyond 2019 in our averages, to avoid any potential distortions related to the 2020–2021 COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing recession. This analysis looks at restrictions passed by states from 2011 to 2019. We include as examples of voting restrictions laws that require voter ID or proof of citizenship, limit absentee and mail-in collection, limit registration, or limit participation by those previously incarcerated.

Sources: EPI analysis of 2015–2019 Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group (CPS-ORG) microdata for all workers ages 16 and older; Brennan Center for Justice, “State Voting Bills Tracker 2021,” last updated May 28, 2021.

View the underlying data on epi.org.