ABClatino Magazine Year 2 Issue 12 | Page 7

Latino Political Participation

and Prison Gerrymandering

By Gabriela Hasaj

800,000 American Latinos turn 18 each year, and the average American Latino is 27 years old, 14 years younger than the average White American. Currently, Latinos make up 30% of the U.S. population and 10% of the electorate. There is no debate that the Latino population is growing and as it gains political capital, they become targets of voter suppression tactics.

Latino’s are not the only demographic that are impacted by these tactics, African Americans, Asian Americans and other minority groups are also disproportionately impacted by voting regulations. Some of these regulations include: mandatory showing of government issued ID to vote, elimination of same-day registration, not having absentee voting available. Another major tactic used to transfer political clout from urban areas to more rural areas is the practice of prison gerrymandering...

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