Register and vote

In 2008, approximately 11,608,000 Latinos were registered to vote. Of those, more than 9 million actually voted. A staggering number, or more than 75%.

The Pew Center just issued a report that shows there are 24 million Latinos in the U.S. eligible to vote – a majority not registered. If those numbers were true, let’s say in 2008, the participation rate would hover around the 40% mark. Not remarkable and less than half of the number of Latinos eligible to vote.

In 2010, the number of registered Latino voters dropped to 10,982,000 – a decline of 700,000 across the U.S.

Some now claim that this election will be decided by the Latino vote. That’s hard to understand when the number of registered voters among Latinos is declining while the figure of those who are eligible to vote, but not registered, is skyrocketing.

I say forget the statistics and just register. Then vote!

– Alvaro F. Fernandez, Progreso Weekly/Semanal (Statistics from Juan Andrade, U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute)