Latinos are the fastest-growing racial voting bloc in the United States, but they’re also less likely to be engaged by political parties and campaigns. So says a 2020 study by the University of Maryland.
So what are local organizations in Nevada doing to change that?
Mi Familia Vota, a national organization that advocates for Latino civic engagement, and the Mexican Consulate of Las Vegas, just opened a new center.
Called the Civic Education Resource Center, it’s located within the Mexican Consulate, and will primarily be operated by Mi Familia Vota. The center aims to inform Latinos on how to obtain citizenship and participate in elections, among other resources.
Tim Hernandez, state director for Mi Familia Vota, talked about why he sees a center like this as essential for the Latino community in Nevada.
“Latinos have been historically underrepresented and underserved in the political space," he said. "To us, it's critical that Latinos have access to our rights and access to democracy at large. But furthermore, we chose the Mexican consulate because it reflects the dynamics of Las Vegas. This partnership comes after a years-long conversation between our President-CEO and the Mexican Consulate.”
Hernandez added that the biggest challenge is communicating to Latinos why it’s important for them to vote.
Data from the US Census Bureau show Latinos as the largest minority group in Nevada, at 30%.
