Why Hispanics Don’t Have a Larger Political Voice

*Latino voter turnout is important, but age and geography are strong determinants of political power as well. In congressional politics the Latino vote is diluted to the point that it matters little. Immigration reform opponents know this and lose nothing by using extreme rhetoric – on the contrary, it strengthens their position. Given the numbers, applying pressure to the Senate or the House of Representatives seems futile. VL

By Nate Cohn, The New York Times

Hispanic American are growing in number, coveted by the nation’s political parties and deeply in favor of an overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws. Given this combination, why does such an overhaul still seem to be such a long shot in Washington?

One reason is that no demographic group is more marginalized in American elections than Hispanics. Many are ineligible to vote, while those who can vote  often do not or are concentrated in non-competitive districts and states. The dynamic sill be particularly strong in this year’s midterm’s in November, when Hispanic voters will represent a tiny fraction of the electorate in the states and districts critical to the battle for control of congress.

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[Photo by Peter Dutton/Flickr]