Complexities of the American "Latino Vote"

Hey Bess, thank you for the great questions! <br />To answer your first question, the "Latino Vote" is in quotes because it is what news agencies and representatives like to call Latinos who vote, but it is not inclusive of the diversity of Latino voting trends. Working with Nicole Bartels, we expanded upon what this "Latino Vote" means, which wrongly groups all Latinos into one voting bloc, voting one way or another, and determined that there is no Latino voting bloc and is, instead, multifaceted based on individual circumstances and experiences, which is expanded upon in the poster.<br />Second, my hope is that these recommendations will be used by representatives and university students and faculty, respectively. With Latinos being the largest minority group in the country, recognizing that they are not one group swing vote would ensure that they are considered for their individuality. This could help representatives hoping to represent Latinos with their candidacy to gain their vote and represent their values. Additionally, the suggestion to implement a journal for verified, peer-reviewed information offered in various languages is a method that universities, and potentially non-profits, can get involved in the fight against mis- and disinformation.<br />Lastly, the "professor accounts" section is to demonstrate who I interviewed and learned from during the research process, as well as how their input influenced my findings. Nicole Bartels is a university professor with years of experience in the intersection of political science and Latino trends. I interviewed her and used her input as a guiding factor as I found the determinants for Latino voting trends. Then, Kristin Arola, I interviewed because she researched Native American voting trends in local elections in the Upper Peninsula. I utilized similar research methods to hers to find the key factors for Latinos. Both of their professional inputs contributed significantly to my findings and final recommendations.

That's a great question, and a difficult one to answer. Latinos, especially, are being fiercely attacked by the current administration, and many were seemingly unaware of the package they voted for in the 2024 Presidential election. I attribute this directly to a lack of quality information in an understandable form. A great direction to head in would be creating a forum, site, or journal that provides free, quality information about candidates, their policies, and their stances all in one place. This has to be translated into languages other than English and must answer key questions that matter to their personal lives, such as gender expression and identity, and economic plans (or the lack of one) of each candidate. Finally, there should be a digital format for quality information on the history of Latinos in America, which documents the struggles Latinos faced during the immigration process, both past and present. Too many American-born Latinos are unaware of the journey their ancestors took for better opportunities in America, which created a rift between American-born Latinos and foreign-born Latinos. Bridging this rift means learning about the treacherous path that immigrants took, and continue to take, for the possibility of a better life.