the power of the Latino vote - Latino Community Foundation

POWER OF THE LATINO VOTE RAQUEL DONOSO LATINO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

"People keep talking about the power of the Latino vote. But the truth is that 2012 was just the tip of the iceberg. We are not yet tapping into the full potential of the Latino community.” -Eva Longoria to Associated Press May 5, 2014

Latino Vote: United States • In 2004 Latinos were 8% of the electorate, in 2012 it was 10% • Only 59% of eligible Latinos register to vote and only 48% went to the polls • 50% of all eligible Latino voters are under 40

• 66,000 American Latinos turn 18 every month, that is approximately 800,000 a year

90% of American Latinos under 29 consume information in English

Latino Vote: California • 6 million Latinos are eligible to vote in California—the largest Latino eligible voter population nationally. Texas ranks 2nd with 4.2 million. • 26% of California eligible voters are Latino!

• 42% of Latinos in California are eligible to vote. By contrast, 80% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Latino Vote: California Age ▫ Latino eligible voters are young. ▫ 35% of Latino eligible voters are ages 18 to 29. Educational Attainment ▫ 26% of eligible Latino voters have not obtained at least a high school diploma.

Homeownership

▫ Latino eligible voters are highly likely, 57%, to live in owner-occupied homes than Black (40%) eligible voters in California, but they are less likely to do so than Asian (67%) or White (66%) eligible voters in California.

Only 2 out of 5 eligible California Latinos voted in the 2012 Presidential Election

Why It Matters Initiative Process ▫ Californians have adopted 115 initiatives, including 64 laws and 42 constitutional amendments

▫ Initiatives need only a simple majority of the vote to pass, and they usually pass only by narrow margins ▫ In 2014, there will be 2 initiatives on the June Ballot and at least 4 on the November Ballot

Why It Matters In 2014 California Will Determine Control of the State: ▫ All 8 state executive offices are up, including Governor ▫ 53 Congressional seats ▫ 20 even-numbered state senate seats ▫ All 80 state assembly seats

“Latinos are punching below their weight” -Pew Hispanic Center