Editor’s note: Well, that was easy. Opened up my early ballot form, selected my candidates and propositions, sealed it and dropped it off at the local election office. Your turn!
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ
One sentence stands out among all the data included in the report “Key facts about the Latino vote in 2016” by the Pew Research Center.
“Despite large growth in the number of eligible Latino voters, it remains to be seen whether their turnout will set a record in November.”
In other words, if not now, then when?
A record 27.3 million Latinos nationwide are eligible to cast ballots, up 4 million from 2012, representing 12 percent of all eligible voters this year, the center reported.
However, that growth has outpaced the number of Latinos who actually vote.
Will 2016 be the year when Latinos make a significant impact?
“Latino voters are playing a pivotal role in elections across the country and in Arizona, now a battleground state, which means it’s more important now than ever that elected officials understand the impact our community is having on the economy and every other major aspect of our community,” Gonzalo A. de la Melena Jr., president and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, stated in a report in the Arizona Star on Oct. 28.
The growth in Latino votes in Arizona, a pivotal swing state in this year’s election, mirrors the increase nationwide.
Latino Arizonans cast 400,000 ballots in the 2012 presidential election, up from 291,000 in 2008. Since February, the number of Latino registered voters in Arizona grew from 625,000 to more than 700,000, the Hispanic chamber reported in its recent “DATOS: The State of Arizona’s Hispanic Market” report.
However, the chamber reports more than 300,000 Arizona Latinos who are eligible to vote haven’t registered and that could have an impact not only in Arizona but nationwide.
In California, Latinos make up 34 percent of the state’s population, but account for only 18 percent of those likely to vote, according to a report by the Public Policy Institute of California.
However, breaking early voting data indicates this could be the year Latinos finally show up at the voting booth in record numbers:
- CNN: Early voting data in 3 key states show spike in Latino turnout
- New York Magazine: Latino Turnout Surges in Early Voting
- Fox News Latino: ‘Sleeping Giant’ awake and roaring – early voting shows high Latino …
And according to one story, that upswing in voting may have one person to thank.
- Los Angeles Times: Latinos in California have one big reason to vote: Donald Trump
There are only a handful of competitive states in this year’s presidential election where Latinos account for a significant share of the vote, the Pew Hispanic Center reported. Out of seven competitive states, Latinos have a significant presence in three: Arizona (22 percent), Florida (18 percent) and Nevada (17 percent).
But at a time when Latinos could make a significant impact at the polls, only 69 percent of Latinos nationwide are “absolutely certain” they will vote in November, down from 77 percent in 2012.
That is just plain wrong. It is time for Latinos, no matter which political party or candidate they support, to make a strong effort to get to the polls on Nov. 8. There should be no excuses.
Here are some other key facts about the Latino vote in 2016, Pew reported:
- Millennials make up 44 percent of Latino eligible voters and are the main driver of growth in the Latino electorate.
- Among Latino registered voters who are “absolutely certain” they will vote, one in five will be voting for the first time, according to Pew’s National Survey of Latinos, published this month.
- Hispanic registered voters have grown more dissatisfied with the nation’s direction. In 2016, 57 percent of Hispanic voters say they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country, up from 50 percent in 2012. Among them, those born in the U.S. are more dissatisfied than immigrants, 63 percent to 45 percent.
- Latinos have long viewed the Democratic Party as having more concern for Latinos than the Republican Party, but their views of Democrats have fluctuated. In 2016, 54 percent of Latino registered voters say the Democratic Party has more concern for Latinos than the Republican Party, down from 61 percent in 2012. About one-in-four Latino voters say there is no difference between the parties on this measure.
- Hillary Clinton has more enthusiastic support from older Latinos than from Millennial Latinos.
- Three-quarters of Hispanic registered voters say they have discussed Donald Trump’s comments about Hispanics or other groups with family, friends or coworkers. Those who have discussed Trump’s controversial comments on Hispanics, Mexican immigrants and other groups in the past year have given more thought to the election and are more certain they will vote.
The time to register to vote has passed, with Nov. 2 the last day to mail in a ballot to ensure it’s counted. For those who have registered, the most important day now is Nov. 8 when election day polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
Will this be another election year where Latinos sit on the sidelines, or will they finally take the initiative and go to the polls?
— Click here to read “Key facts about the Latino vote in 2016”
— Click here to read “DATOS: The State of Arizona’s Hispanic Market”