Latino Voter Turnout Low In 2014 Midterm Elections
Latino voter groups estimate turnout in the 2014 midterm elections was even lower than 2010. Despite efforts to register voters, provide information and even go so far as to drive them to polls, turnout among Latinos was low. Francisco Heredia is director for One Arizona, a "get out the vote" group.
“It’s trying to change the culture of voting, trying to integrate as much as civic participation into the lives of our families," Heredia said. "So they understand elections are important."
Preliminary reports from the Arizona Secretary of State estimate a voter turnout of 37 percent. But at least 300,000 ballots are yet to be counted. A case challenging voter identification requirements in Arizona and Kansas is in the federal appeals court. For the 2014 midterm election in Arizona, voters who couldn't prove citizenship got a special ballot with only federal races. If voters can prove citizenship, they get a ballot with both state and federal races.
“The dual track should be taken out by the next Secretary of State because if we want to encourage more participation we can’t make it harder for folks to vote, we need to make it easier,” Heredia said.
The Pew Research Center reports Arizona has the fourth highest percentage of eligible Latino voters of the country.
Updated to show latest figures 11/5/14 at 5:52 p.m.
