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The following media release was published by National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund on Wednesday:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund today released its analysis of new Election 2018 turnout data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS).Results from the CPS data show that Latino voter turnout increased by 13 percentage points in Election 2018, a 50 percent increase in Latino voter turnout from Election 2014. More than 40 percent of the Latino citizen voting-age population cast ballots in 2018, up from 27 percent in the previous midterm election.*
“These data confirm what we witnessed across the country: that Latinos were showing up in historic numbers to make their voices heard in Election 2018,” stated Arturo Vargas, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) CEO. “With the upcoming primaries and caucuses only months away, we know excitement is building and that Election 2020 is shaping up to be another one for the record books. Our recent poll data shows that Latinos are eager to make their voices heard, with eight in ten Latino registered voters stating they are likely to vote in the upcoming presidential election.”
Other major findings include:
- Election 2018 marked the highest Latino turnout for a mid-term election since at least 2002. Nearly 11.7 million Latinos cast ballots in 2018, up from 6.8 million in 2014. The percentage of Latino adult citizens who made their voices heard increased, up to more than 40 percent in 2018 from 27 percent in 2014.*
- The power of the Latina vote was real in 2018. Latina voters outperformed their male counterparts in Election 2018, with 43 percent casting ballots in 2018, compared to 37 percent of Latino males.
- California, Florida and Texas also had higher Latino turnout compared to 2014. Latino turnout in each of these states was significantly higher in 2018, (43 percent, 44 percent and 34 percent), compared to the previous midterm election (25 percent, 36 percent and 22 percent respectively).
- Increases in turnout were particularly striking for California, Texas and Florida. The Golden State saw a 74 percent increase in Latino citizen voting-age population turnout over 2014, with the Lone Star State experiencing a 53 percent increase over 2014. Florida followed with an increase of 23 percent.
- Latino naturalized citizens voted at higher rates than native-born Latinos. As has been the case since at least 1996, Latino naturalized citizens outperformed their native-born counterparts in 2018. Forty-four percent of Latino naturalized citizens cast ballots compared to 39 percent of the Latino native-born. Twenty-nine percent of Latino voters were naturalized citizens, and 71 percent were native-born.
Results from the NALEO Educational Fund/Latino Decisions Spring 2019 National Poll show that Latinos are following Election 2020 closely and are eager to make their voices heard. More than eight in ten (84 percent) Latino registered voters reported being likely or certain to vote in November 2020, with Latinas (85 percent), Democrats (87 percent) and those over the age of 50 (90 percent) among those most likely to state that they will likely cast a ballot.
As part of this year’s NALEO Annual Conference (June 21-23, 2019), NALEO Educational Fund is hosting a presidential candidate forum in partnership with Presenting Sponsor Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo. Taking place on June 21 at the new Telemundo Center headquarters in Miami, the Forum will offer candidates seeking the support of the nation’s fastest growing population of new voters a unique opportunity to engage Latino leadership on the issues that matter most to the Latino community.
As we near Election 2020, NALEO Educational Fund will continue its efforts to ensure that Latino voters have the information necessary to make their voices heard at the ballot box. These efforts include operating our toll-free bilingual hotline 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682) that provides Latino voters with information on every aspect of the electoral process, from registering to vote, to voter ID requirements, to finding their polling place.
To view the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 voting and registration table package, visit this link.
These November 2018 election data come from the Voting and Registration Supplement to the Current Population Survey, which surveys the civilian noninstitutionalized population in the United States.
*Turnout of Latino registered voters was also significantly higher, and will require more analysis.
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About NALEO Educational Fund
NALEO Educational Fund is the nation’s leading non-profit, non-partisan organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.
