Why Latinos Should Care About Voting
*There is no silver Latino vote bullet. If the Latino vote is to increase (or even think of reaching its potential) a concerted effort of many people, in many groups, in many locations using many tactics, is the only thing that’ll work. A Latino vote documentary can be part of that concert of efforts. There’s a group of folks wanting to make such a film, and they need our help. VL
By Eva Longoria, Gianpaolo Pietri, and Alessandro Pietri, Huffington Post Latino Voices
Much has been made of the importance of the Latino vote to both major political parties during the last two election cycles, but a closer look at voter participation rates proves that it was just the tip of the iceberg. Latino influence could be significantly greater.
Less than 50 percent of eligible Hispanic voters voted in 2012, about 11.2 million of a total of 23.6 million. During the 2010 Midterms, the number was closer to 31 percent.
As we enter a new election cycle, the important question is whether we as Latinos will leverage the full extent of our political power?
Simply put, this is just the beginning. Societal and cultural transformations are complex processes that take time to grow and develop into their full potential. In spite of our deep historical roots in America, the role of Latinos as a major force in American politics and culture is still in its early stages.
But other factors are at play. Inaction on key issues from both sides of the aisle can make Latinos (and all Americans) feel like strangers in their own land.
Individually, many may believe their voice does not count. It is up to political leaders to show them they are an integral part of the country’s future and that the issues they care about — jobs, education, health care, immigration — are legislative priorites.
We have reached a fork in the road and depending which path Latinos choose, the future could yield us greater power than any other ethnic group in influencing the current cultural evolution of America, including its policies and its institutions.
Let’s look at the numbers.
“Hispanics today make up 11.3 percent of all eligible voters. But voter turnout among Hispanics has not kept pace with the growing number of eligible voters in recent national elections, especially the midterms. In 2010, Hispanics cast a record 6.6 million ballots out of 21.3 million eligible voters, a turnout rate of 31.2 percent. But that was still far below the turnout among black voters (44 percent) and white voters (48.6 percent),” according to a recent article by the Pew Hispanic Center.
This article was originally published in Huffington Post Latino Voices.
[Photo courtesy of Real Clear Politics]