Contact: Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of GALEO, jerry@galeo.org, 404.745.2580
ATLANTA, GA, August 6, 2013 --As the Georgia Congressional delegation comes home during the August recess, it is important to know the growth and increasing influence of the Latino electorate.
The data analysis contained in the report released today, "The Continued Growth of the Latino Electorate in Georgia: Latino electorate reaches 183,966 voters and Metro Atlanta Counties lead," indicates an electorate that will continue to evolve in importance in Georgia's political arena. Based upon the statewide voter data file and the analysis in this report as of January 2013, Latino voters have now reached 183,966, representing 3% of the electorate in Georgia. The Latino electorate grew by over 37,975 new Latino voters since the 2008 report , representing a growth rate of 26%.
In the state of Georgia the Latino voter participation rate dropped from 53.8% in 2008 to 47.1%, a rate drop of 6.7%. Despite this drop however, in raw numbers, the Georgia election in 2008 produced 78,525 Latino votes, while the total number of Latino voters in 2012 was 86,666, which was an increase of 9.4%. The drop in Latino voter turn out shows a troubling trend and additional analysis is warranted to analyze the state voter ID and citizenship check efforts as potential causes for the drop in Latino voter participation.
Polling indicates that Latino voters nationwide still value and are closely following the immigration reform debate and want a path to citizenship included in a comprehensive immigration reform.
As Georgia's Congressional delegation begins to formulate their opinions and positions on the immigration reform debate, it is important to note the growth of the Latino electorate in Georgia. The purpose of this report is to provide a snapshot of that growth with regar  ds to the 2012 election, while also maintaining a keen eye on trends for future elections in the state of Georgia.
Demonstrating Georgia's Latino electorate growth and voter turn out statewide, here are some highlights of this report:
- 51% of the Latino electorate is under the age of 40.
- 88% of the Latino electorate has registered to vote post 2001 indicating recent electoral activity.
- Between 2001-2010, 119,429 new Latino voters were added to Georgia's electorate, making up 65% of the statewide total Latino voters.
- Between 2011-2013, 41,642 new Latino voters were added to Georgia's electorate, making up 23% of the statewide total Latino voters.
- The Latino electorate in Georgia consists nowof 183,966 voters, representing 3% of the electorate in Georgia.
- The electorate grew by over 37,975 new Latino voters since 2008 , representing a growth rate of 26%.
- Statewide, 47.1% of Latino registered voters turned out to vote in the 2012 General Election, underperforming the national Latino voter turn out rate of 48%. Further analysis is necessary to determine reasons for this drop in Latino voter participation.
Looking at the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is now defined by 29 counties , Latino voter turn out for the 2012 General Election surpassed national Latino voter turn out rates:
- 66% of the 29 metropolitan Atlanta counties surpassed the national Latino voter turn out rate of 48%.
- The top two counties with the highest Latino density in the state (Gwinnett and Cobb) surpassed the Latino voter turn out rate compared to the national Latino voter turn out rate.
- Gwinnett County alone accounts for 17.73% of the statewide Latino electorate, while Cobb County accounts for 10.90% of the Latino electorate.
- Fayette County tops the Metro Atlanta area with the highest Latino voter participation rate at 62.1%, a full 13.2% above the national Latino voter participation rate.
This report also analyzes density and Latino voter turn out in Congressional and State Legislative Districts:
- 50% of the Congressional Districts out-performed the national rate of Latino voter turnout.
- 47.2% (85 out of 180) of the Georgia House Districts demonstrated to be at or above the national Latino voter turn out rate.
- 44.6% (25 out of 56) of the Georgia Senate Districts demonstrated Latino voter turn out higher than the national Latino voter turn out rate.
- U.S. Representative Rob Woodall (R-7) has the highest density of Latino registered voters with 28,058, accounting for 7.96% of the electorate in this district. In the 2012 General Election, Latino voter turn out rate in his district was 50.5%, above the national Latino voter turn out rate of 48%.
- U.S. Representative Tom Price (R-6) had the highest Latino voter turn out in the state for the 2012 General Election with 54.1%. Congressional District 6 accounts for 17,456 Latino registered voters, accounting for 4.22% of the Congressional district electorate.
- Georgia State Senator Curt Thompson (D-SD5) represents 9,282 Latino registered voters in his district.
- Georgia State Representative Bruce Broadrick, Sr. (R-HD4) accounts for 3,379 Latino registered voters, accounting for 17.98% of the electorate in the House District.
Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of GALEO concluded, "the numbers and the analysis presented in this report indicate a significant Latino electorate that is engaging quickly. The Latino electorate cares about the issue of immigration reform and has demonstrated a capacity to turn out to vote. As the 2014 election unfolds, candidates and elected officials should take the Latino electorate seriously because Latino voters in Georgia are engaged and participate in elections."
The complete report may be accessed here:
The report includes data for all 159 counties, all Congressional Districts, and all Georgia House and Senate Legislative Districts.
The report was published with special collaboration between GALEO, the NALEO Educational Fund and the University of Georgia Political Science Department. The report was authored by Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of GALEO. Voter turn-out database analysis was conducted by Trey Hood, Ph.D., Department of Political Science, University of Georgia (Athens, GA).
The Latino surname match was conducted by Edelmira Patty Garcia, Ph. D., Data & Campaign Manager - Civic Engagement, NALEO Educational Fund (Washington, DC). Editing contributions were made by Laura I. Toro, Esq., Program Coordinator, GALEO.
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