Relatively little is known about the differences in voting behavior between immigrants and native-born Americans, primarily due to a lack of good quality data on the national level. Using new data from the Voting and Registration Supplement to the November 1996 Current Population Survey (CPS), we first estimate logistic regressions to examine which socioeconomic and demographic factors are related to whether a citizen will 1) register to vote and 2) vote. Second, we also investigate whether native-born or naturalized citizens are more likely to register and vote, net of other factors. Third, we examine whether citizens born in specific regions of the world are more or less likely than those born in the U.S. to register and vote. Finally, we analyze the extent to which voting behavior among naturalized citizens is associatedwith region of origin and length of time spent in the U.S.

We find that citizens with more education and income, employed individuals, those who own their homes, those who have a longer length of time at current residence, professionals, women, older individuals, married individuals, and Blacks are more likely to register and vote. We find that naturalized citizens are less likely to register and to vote than native-born citizens, net of other effects. Citizens born abroad in Europe, Latin America, and Asia are less likely to register and those born abroad in Europe and Asia are less likely to vote than those born in the U.S. Among naturalized citizens, those who have a longer length of time at current residence and in the U.S., are older, with more education and higher income are more likely to register and vote. Region of origin was not significantly related to voting and registration among naturalized citizens, once duration in the U.S. was included in the model.