The Latino Electorate: Profiles and Trends

Author:	Lindsay Daniels and Clarissa Martinez De Castro
Contact:	Lindsay Daniels
Date:	Jun 4, 2007
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Topic:	Advocacy and Electoral Empowerment
Programs:	Civic Engagement, Field Advocacy Project
Policy:	Naturalization
Region:	DC

Summary

This statistical brief provides a profile of the Latino vote, an examination of Latino voting behavior in past presidential elections and the 2006 midterm election, and recommendations for stakeholders to increase Hispanic participation in the electoral process. Future briefs in this series will take a closer look at new and emerging community-based approaches for increasing the size of this electorate and at Latino voter perspectives on various issues.

Description

While the Latino vote has generated much attention and debate in recent election cycles, there is still substantial confusion about the Hispanic electorate, including current size and future potential, its partisan affiliations (or lack thereof), and strategies that candidates, political parties, and nonpartisan advocates could employ to increase this population’s participation in the electoral process.

This statistical brief, the first in a series, provides a profile of the Latino vote, an examination of Latino voting behavior in past presidential elections and the 2006 midterm election, and recommendations for stakeholders to increase Hispanic participation in the electoral process. Future briefs in this series will take a closer look at new and emerging community-based approaches for increasing the size of this electorate and at Latino voter perspectives on various issues.