This dissertation consists of three papers that explore the geographic context of elections. Through case studies of migration and same-sex marriage, this research demonstrates how elections are the products of stratified social, economic, and political environments that area highly variable across space. This dissertation also details the implications for local, state, and national elections.The first two papers of this dissertation explore how compositional effects of migration fundamentally alter political landscapes. In addressing this research question, Appendix A tackles the primary obstacle of compositional migration research--collecting migration data containing individual party identification. This paper makes a significant contribution by serving as the first study to pioneer a methodological approach that predicts individual partisanship of migrants according to socioeconomic characteristics with logistic regression state models. The results underscore the importance of migrant origins and destinations in considering the political effectiveness of migration flows.Relying on the methodological framework in Appendix A, Appendix B calls attention to the oversimplified, undertheorized, and highly problematic definitions of migration responsible for the cursory understanding of migration's compositional effects. Specifically, the paper suggests what recent U.S. migration trends portend for compositional changes in Democratic and Republican partisanship at the state level through a concept of `political effectiveness'. This research makes several important contributions to the existing literature, including clearly illustrating the complexity of migration through the different ways it produces partisan gains.Approaching electoral analysis through a contextual perspective, Appendix C examines the interrelationship of political strategies used by gay rights advocates in campaigns against constitutional bans of same-sex marriage. Through a comparative analysis of Arizona Propositions 107 and 102, this research examines the interrelationship and basis of political strategies between voters' rejection of Proposition 107 (2006) and passage of Proposition 102 (2008). Additionally, considering that vote choice is largely influenced by discursive political cues, including messaging, it is imperative to examine the basis of political strategies and assess how local context influences political strategies and voting constituencies. Findings from this research also provide important considerations for both gay rights and political strategy literatures.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI/Dissertation Abstracts International.

Thesis (M. P. A.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2009. / "Fall 2009." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-85).

Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2005. / Title from title screen. Emanuela Guano, committee chair; Kathryn A. Kozaitis, Susan McCombie, Cassandra White, committee members. Electronic text (96 p. : photos) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed June 11, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-96).

Using the contemporary example of same-sex marriage, the author uses his first-hand experience as a Member of Parliament to examine the "dialogue" theory of Charter of Rights and Freedoms politics and decision-making role of legislators. The dialogue between courts, legislatures and Canadians is robust and having a significant impact on public policy in Canada. However, many of those in the legislature are either unaware or uninterested in this changing fact of Canadian policy making. This is particularly troubling given the power MPs have when voting in the House of Commons on an issue of equality rights in the House of Commons in a free vote - as was the case in the issue at the centre of this thesis, the issue of same-sex marriage.

Using the contemporary example of same-sex marriage, the author uses his first-hand experience as a Member of Parliament to examine the "dialogue" theory of Charter of Rights and Freedoms politics and decision-making role of legislators. The dialogue between courts, legislatures and Canadians is robust and having a significant impact on public policy in Canada. However, many of those in the legislature are either unaware or uninterested in this changing fact of Canadian policy making. This is particularly troubling given the power MPs have when voting in the House of Commons on an issue of equality rights in the House of Commons in a free vote - as was the case in the issue at the centre of this thesis, the issue of same-sex marriage.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-110). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 272-289) Also available in print.

Thesis (Honors)--College of William and Mary, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-86). Also available online.

Thesis (M.A.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2007. / "A capstone project undertaken in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in Public Policy and Management at City University of Hong Kong." "MAPPM, SA 6904: Capstone Project." Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Oct. 12, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.