The Hispanic Vote in 2012
- Time8:39 pm
- aldobelloaldobello
- blog Hispanic Americans Latinos Voting
One of the biggest stories of the 2012 Presidential Election is the Hispanic or Latin@ vote. It’s all over the blogosphere and it’s taking up headline space on some of the biggest names in print journalism.
In a recent Pew Hispanic Center survey and analysis, released at the end of last year (Dec, 2011), Pew states that the Latin@ vote has recorded substantial growth in the last couple of decades, and that Latin@ participation in the electoral process has been rising. This makes sense because the number of Latin@s in the nation and therefore, the number of eligible Latin@ voters residing in the country, has substantially increased as well:
But despite the growing numbers, and the opportunity Hispanics have to prove that they can be influential at the polls in this important cycle, Pew also states that “with the 2012 presidential election around the corner, the Pew Hispanic survey reveals that more than half (56%) of Latino registered voters say they have given not much or no thought to the candidates who might be running for president.”
And it’s not just Pew that is finding evidence of a possible lukewarm Latin@ turnout in November. A recent New York Times article by Adam Nagourney, leads with the following:
“The nation’s rapidly growing Latino population is one of the most powerful forces working in President Obama’s favor in many of the states that will determine his contest with Mitt Romney. But Latinos are not registering or voting in numbers that fully reflect their potential strength, leaving Hispanic leaders frustrated and Democrats worried as they increase efforts to rally Latino support.”
So what gives?
There are many reasons underlying the current state of voter apathy within the Hispanic community, including Latin@ dissatisfaction with a sharp increase in deportations and an economic downturn that has disproportionally affected Hispanics nationwide. The increase in the number of deportations has been coupled with a very strong nativist push to enact new anti-immigrant laws in certain states. Anti-immigrant efforts have led to the passage of Arizona’s SB 1070 (whose constitutionality has been challenged by the DOJ and is now being debated at the Supreme Court) and several copycat laws such as Georgia’s HB 87 and Alabama’s HB 56. These state laws have intimidated members of the immigrant community, but especially Hispanics.
But this is precisely why the immigrant community should organize and get registered to vote and then show up at the polls on November 6. It is BECAUSE the immigrant community — and as an extension, the Latin@ community — is under attack in so many ways, that they should organize and push to elect local and state officials that “get it,” politicians who will fight for social justice and immigrant rights.
The DREAMers — undocumented youth who are fighting for passage of the DREAM Act — are leading the way…let’s hope that everyone else decides to follow. This is the only way in which we’ll enact positive change and have any chance of passing immigration reform in the near future!