Recent Voting Trends among Chicanos
Bill Calderon of the Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project (SVREP) discusses Chicano Voting patterns and the recent increase in Chicano voter turn-out. In spite of the general decline in voter turn-out, Chicano voting has increased by 64% in 4 years. While some of this increase can be attributed to the high Chicano birth rate, Calderon believes that grassroots organizing has played a more significant role in getting out the vote. He explains that organizations like the SVREP have worked to increase minority participation in elections by increasing awareness of political processes. These groups try to educate potential voters and have found that door to door organizing increases voter turn out.
Calderon also believes that the growing number of Chicano elected officials has encouraged Chicano electoral participation. Chicano officials in Texas and California have brought significant services to their community, but as host Linda Fregoso points out there is little evidence of actual economic improvements. Calderon also points out that there are still barriers to minority electoral participation, and he discusses a study on gerrymandering in Texas counties with significant Chicano populations. He says that the Voting Rights Act is an important step towards ensuring equitable districts and safeguarding minority voting rights. His own research has found that discrimination continues at the polls, and the project is now trying to distribute information about the Voting Rights Act and aid communities who are encountering electoral discrimination.
KEYWORDS
Bakersfield, CaliforniaBay City, Texas
Bill Calderon
Birth Rates
California
Chicano Politicians
Chicano Voter Turn-out
Civic Improvements
Civil Rights
Constitution
Crystal City
Democracy
Discrimination
Elections
Federal Policy
Gerrymandering
Grassroots Organizing
Intimidation
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Minority Representation in Politics
Municipal Politics
Pascual Martinez
Political Alienation
Political Campaigns
Population
Rosa Linda Fregoso
San Antonio, Texas
Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project
Supreme Court
Texas
Texas Rural Aid
Texas Rural Legal Aid
Voting Rights Act