28th Annual Student Research Conference
Using Religious Affiliation as a Predictor of Political Party Affiliation
Mason D. Bracken
Dr. Michael Rudy, Faculty Mentor
Many factors contribute to political party preference. Religion plays a significant role in determining a person's values through the family and religious leaders. These values strongly influence an individual's political ideology, and thus political party preference. This study analyzes the role of religious affiliation in determining political party affiliation in the United States. This analysis intends to increase understanding of political party coalitions in the American electoral system. Certain religions align closer with one party. This study analyzes the effect of America's major religions on voting partisanship. America's religions are broken down into six categories: Jews, liberal Protestants, moderate Protestants, conservative Protestants, Catholics, and the unaffiliated, modifying the methodology used by Paul Lopatto in his study of religion and politics. The statistically significant results indicate that religion does affect political party affiliation. The results reveal that political campaigns and coalitions can still use religion to galvanize voters.
Keywords: Political Science, Religious Affiliation , Political Party Coalitions
Topic(s):Political Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 411-2
Location: MG 2001
Time: 2:45