Latino voters expected to impact 2010 elections

America’s Voice, an organization that supports immigration reform, has released report, The Power of the Latino Vote in the 2010 Elections, that looks at Latino voting behavior and the impact it will have on 2010 competitive races. Frank Sharry, exec. director of American Voice, said how Democrats and Republicans deal with the issue of immigration reform will have a major effect on Latino political behavior, including turnout and party preference.
The report tracks 40 races for 2010 in 12 states and analyzes Latino voter percentages and the candidates’ positions on immigration reform. All of these races are close and the Latino vote will have a decisive impact on who’s elected.
The report also discusses the 79 congressional districts in which Latinos comprise at least 25% of the population and a significant number of the voting electorate.
“The hope for immigration reform has been a powerful force behind the Latino vote,” said Janet Murguia, president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza, the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S. “Like all Americans, Latinos believe it’s time for politicians to stop playing politics with a problem we could have solved a long time ago. And as all voters, we will hold accountable those in either party who continue engaging in obstruction or avoidance.”