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Show Lorella Praeli, Director of Latino Outreach for the Hillary for America campaign, talks with Jorge Silva, director of Hispanic media, at Hillary campaign headquarters on Sept. 24, 2015 in Brooklyn Heights, New York. Your vote counts — so cast it By PAULA NINATAYPE Spanish Editor The three largest groups of minorities in the United States, African Americans, Hispanics and Asians, were well represented in the 2008 presidential election. According to the Census Bureau and a poll by the Pew Research Center, “The electorate in the [2008] presidential elections was the most racially and ethnically diverse in U.S. history, with nearly one in four votes cast by non-whites.” In those days, young people eligible to vote didn’t get involved in politics, but since then, they have. It was a crucial election. Barack Obama was elected president with 67.8 percent of the electoral vote and 52.86 percent of the popular vote. The results were very clear. The first African American president of the United States was sworn into office, and he has remained in that position for the past 8 years. Every year, we have the privilege of voting in local elections, but only every four years do we vote for the president. In November of this year, we again have the opportunity to vote for our president — Hillary Clinton (D) or Donald Trump (R). We will be voting to elect the best candidate to represent this nation for what it is, so it’s important that everyone goes out to vote so that their voices are heard. According to the website Latinovotematters.org, “The growth in the Latino electorate has shifted over time from immigrants to the young U.S. born Latinos turning 18 and becoming eligible to vote. Roughly 500,000 – 600,000 Latino voters are added to the voting rolls each year.” In recent years, there have been an unprecedented number of Hispanics who have obtained the right to vote. This is not something to be taken lightly. Many don’t vote because they erroneously think that their vote doesn’t count. Especially in Utah, many people think that the Democratic vote does not count because Utah is a predominantly a Republican state, but that isn’t the case. If larger numbers of voters cast their ballots, the electorate, which we have also chosen, should represent our decision equally. There are several reasons why the percentages of Latinos who are registered to vote are less than it is among whites or blacks. The Pew Research Center reported that although they have legal status, Latino immigrants in the U.S. have not obtained U.S. citizenship. Others are undocumented immigrants. Even though the two groups are not eligible to vote, the Pew Research Center cites that “they account for about 30% of all Latino adults.” For those who are procrastinating citizenship, it is important to think about this decision. In 2008, the vote of young people and minorities changed the result of the election, and it can again. Do not miss the opportunity to vote — your vote counts. Translated by Rosa Arambula Follow Paula on Facebook paula.ninataype 11 | September 16, 2016 | THE SIGNPOST | Volume 87 | Issue 16 | MyWeberMedia.com CAROLYN COLE | Los Angeles Times |
