Valerie Martinez-Ebers - Myths and realities of the Latino vote

Valerie Martinez-Ebers a professor of political science destroys the myths society has about   Latinos and voting, she writes:

The Democratic and Republican Parties featured high-profile Latino speakers at their recent conventions, reflecting the growing influence of Hispanic politicians and the parties' need to appeal to Hispanic voters. But what motivates those voters? There are countless misunderstandings about Latinos, their allegiances, and their interests, including: Latinos do not vote.

They do, and in increasing numbers. According to the Census Bureau, the number of Latino voters grew from less than four million in 1988 to 9.7 million in 2008. In 2012, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials expects at least 12.2 million Latinos to vote, representing 9 percent of the electorate.

Although only 55 percent of eligible Hispanics are registered to vote, about 70 percent of those registered consistently turn out. This November, the Latino vote will be pivotal in several battleground states, such as Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, and Virginia.

http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20121009_Myths_and_realities_of_the_Latino_vote.html