A new survey released yesterday by the Pew Hispanic Center found that only half of all registered Hispanic voters say they will cast their ballots on November 2.
The survey, titled “Latinos and the 2010 Elections: Strong Support for Democrats; Weak Voter Motivation,” found that while Latinos support Democratic candidates over Republican candidates in local congressional races, 65% to 22%, they are also less motivated to go out and vote.
Only 51% said they will vote in the upcoming midterm elections compared to 70% of all registered voters who say they will vote.
The survey also found that two-thirds of Latino voters approve of President Barack Obama’s job performance. However, Latino voters may be more disillusioned with the political process than other groups, according to voters, Latino organizations, and political consultants and candidates.
Immigration has been a top issue this election cycle, with many Latinos saying they feel under attack by such policies as Arizona’s anti-immigrant law S.B. 1070.
A student at Arizona State University, Tomas Robles, says he was so enraged by the anti-immigrant legislation that he registered 12 of his family members to vote. While he has continued to register Latinos voters in a door-to-door campaign, he has also found that many are not as enthusiastic as he and have slammed the door in his face.
“For the first time, I felt it was time for me to get involved,” Robles said.
Several other efforts are under way to motivate Latinos to vote. Just this week, La Plaza Guest Blogger Xinomara Velazquez Yehuda, spotlighted The Hispanic Institute’s Latino Voter Registration Project, which successfully added 10,000 new Hispanic voters in Nevada.
The Service Employees International Union and several advocacy groups have sponsored radio ads in Phoenix and eight other cities accusing Republicans of obstructing big changes in immigration laws put forth by President Obama and Congressional Democrats.
The nationwide survey of 1,375 Latinos ages 18 and older, including 618 registered voters, was conducted August 17 through September 19, 2010.
I’m going to vote and a whole lot of other people I know are also going to vote