Voting bloc

Not to be confused with Block voting.

For the formalization of the same concept in social choice theory, see solid coalition.

A voting bloc is a group of voters that are strongly motivated by a specific common concern or group of concerns to the point that such specific concerns tend to dominate their voting patterns, causing them to vote together in elections.

Beliefnet identifies 12 main religious blocs in American politics, such as the "Religious Right", whose concerns are dominated by religious and sociocultural issues; and American Jews, who are identified as a "strong Democratic group" with liberal views on economics and social issues. The result is that each of these groups votes en bloc in elections. Bloc voting in the United States is particularly cohesive among Orthodox Jews.

Voting blocs can be defined by a host of other shared characteristics, including region, age, gender, education level, and even music choice.

See also

• Political alliance
• Political party
• Votebank