Marriage definition votes in 13 states and voting outcomes

Abstract

In 2004, voters in thirteen states approved amendments to their state constitutions defining marriage as involving one man and one woman. Oklahoma was one of these states. This paper examines the political context of the voting outcomes in these states. It analyzes the influence of religion on the county level votes for the marriage definition amendments, controlling for various political, demographic, and socioeconomic variables. The analysis reveals that while religious affiliation was an important fact in the political environment, the relationship between support for marriage definition and the 2004 Republican presidential vote was more important. The analysis also exhibits evidence that counties with large African-American populations strongly supported marriage definition amendments.