Hispanics Not A Political Force To Reckon With

Washington, DC (AHN) - Despite the rapid rise of the Hispanic population in the U.S., the group is not yet a political force to reckon with.

According to latest U.S. census data, Hispanics numbered 45.5 million by July 2007, a 1.4 million rise within just 12 months. The states which registered fast increases in their Spanish populations were South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida.

The rise in Hispanic numbers has led political groups to observe a voting pattern in the November polls, when 10 million Hispanics are expected to cast their ballot.

Previous elections indicated a weak Latin voice in the ballot box. Clarissa Martinez, director of immigration and national campaigns of the National Council of La Raza, told the AP, "We obviously know that Latino population growth is not perfectly mirrored in the Latino voting population."

There is not only a low Latino voter turnout, but even underrepresentation. In January 2006 there were 5,132 Hispanics elected to various posts in local, state and federal offices. A year later the number was even reduced to 5,129, William Ramos, Washington director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, told the Houston Chronicle.

Another disadvantage observed among Hispanics in the U.S. are their inability to communicate well in English because they are raised in Spanish-speaking homes despite having been born in the U.S.

Vittorio Hernandez - AHN News Writer