Report: Engaging The Latino Electorate

Each year, the Hispanic population—and with it the Hispanic electorate—continues to grow across the nation. Heading into the redistricting process, that growth plays a role both in helping states gain seats and in preventing states that lose seats from experiencing greater losses. In recently released 2010 Census population totals, minorities accounted for roughly 70% of the growth in the U.S. voting-age population in the last decade, with Latinos alone accounting for 40% of that growth. In Texas and California, for example, Hispanics represented more than half of the voting-age population growth.4 In 2009, Latinos represented 15.8% of the total population, but 22.4% of the population under 18;5 these youth will be joining the ranks of the electorate and influencing the balance of power in elections for years to come. To realize that potential, there must be a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to engaging and mobilizing the Latino electorate.

Where candidates are concerned, policy positions and presence matter—to generate energy and support, candidates need to address and support the issues that matter to this community and invest in meaningful outreach and communications. In addition, traditional parties and electoral models need to broaden their efforts beyond habitual voters to reach unregistered, new, and infrequent voters, since the majority of Hispanics fall into those segments and therefore receive less contact. Evidence shows that meaningful outreach and investments, combined with effective mobilization models, produce results.

To read the full report, click here.