Some Empirical Evidence on the Impact of Measurement Errors in Making Ecological Inferences

We seek to identify the impact of data measurement error problems in the context of ecological inference applications. We explore the statistical and substantive implications of using inaccurate proxy variables in the estimation and inference process. The focus of our analysis is on applications of ecological inference in cases involving the Voting Rights Act. We demonstrate our findings with a unique data set on racial registration and turnout in Louisiana and South Carolina.