Latino Millennials More Civically Engaged, but Less Likely to Vote Than Baby Boomers

*Here’s something to keep in mind when people say Latinos are apathetic voters. The truth is that Latinos are young voters, and if they don’t vote it’s because they fit the young voter pattern. Every 30 seconds a U.S. Latino turns 18. 70 percent of those are eligible to vote.  The work is to get young Latinos to the polls. VL

By Nicole Akoukou Thompson , Latin Post

The millennial generation is a powerful force, comprised of close to 90 million teens, twenty- and thirty-somethings. But these civically engaged and independent-leaning young people are heading to the ballot boxes at a lower rate than their elders. Latino millennials have the potential to become one of the most influential segments of the political system, yet Latino baby boomers continue to beat millennials to the ballot box.

Approximately every 30 seconds, a Latino turns 18, and 70 percent of them automatically have the right to vote because they were born in the U.S. By the 2016 presidential election, 28 million Latinos will be eligible to vote, an increase from the present 25 million. Come this November’s midterm elections, only 8 million Latinos are expected to vote (about a third of those who are eligible). Most new voters are millennials, but they vote at half the rate of 60-year-old Latinos. This fact has motivated efforts by organizations such as Mi Familia Vota, Voto Latino and Rock the Vote to increase turnout amoung young Latinos. Churches and community organizations are encouraging young people to move beyond talking and tweeting about politics and get involved. Hispanic evangelicals, who have large numbers and actively urge youn Hispanic to vote, could have a significant impact on th eLatino vote.

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[Photo by David McNew/Latin Post]