Opinion: What’s at stake for Latinos in the election–and why voting matters

In just two weeks, voters across the country will have an opportunity to decide what future and vision we have for this country. As executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, and a long-time activist for reproductive justice, one thing is clear to me: Latinos have the power to decide this election. We hope we’ll be able to make our voices heard. 

You probably won’t be surprised to learn that Latinos are one of the fastest-growing groups in the US. We make up about 14.7% of eligible voters, or 36.2 million people. In Nevada, nearly 1 in 5 voters is Latino and in Arizona, as many as 1 in 4 voters are Latino. 

Unfortunately, because of our strength and power as a voting bloc, Latinos are often discouraged from voting through intimidation, gerrymandering, and other forms of voter suppression, and our communities are greatly targeted with misinformation. 

Of course, if you have mixed feelings about voting, you’re not alone. Politicians haven’t always listened to the needs of our communities. Earlier this year, we polled women of color voters including Latinas, and found that they are motivated to vote IF they see policymakers and politicians speak to and address the issues they care about. We want to see real change on the issues that impact our lives. We also recognize that voting is extremely important to create change and make the mark that we need to force action. 

I know many of us are outraged about the direction the country is going, with ongoing attacks on our freedoms and our ability to get the health care we need. Voting is just one critical way to make our voices heard and ensure that lawmakers listen to and address our needs. In an era when elections are won with tight margins, women of color voters wield the power to decide elections, and our collective support can have a huge impact in 2024 and beyond.  

This election will have an enormous impact on immigrants, Latinos, and other communities of color. Our communities are the most affected by abortion bans — we’re the most likely to live in the 26 states that have banned or restricted abortion access. Time and again, Latinas  bear the brunt of extreme policies that rob us of the tools we need to stay healthy, make decisions about when or whether to become parents, and raise our families with dignity and safety.

We also see the everyday impact that anti-immigrant rhetoric and harmful immigration policies have on our communities. These immigration policies can make immigrants less likely to seek health care altogether due to the fear they create, including the fear of deportation and family separation. For people without documentation in states like Texas—where US Customs and Border Patrol agents set up internal checkpoints along all major routes—accessing abortion care is nearly impossible, as traveling to another state for abortion care means risking family separation, detention, and deportation.  

This election could not be more momentous, from important local races to the presidency and the future of our Supreme Court. And there are crucial ballot measures that will allow Nevadans and Arizonans to decide for themselves whether they can make their own decisions about their bodies and health. 

In our work at the Latina Institute, we know that the majority of people in this country, including Latinos, support access to abortion care and do not want extreme politicians to ban abortion and interfere with their personal health care decisions. This is why we’re committed to building power in Latino communities year round so that people can advocate for themselves and their families and help create a country with true reproductive freedom for all of us. 

Across the country, Latinos are standing up for their rights to make decisions for themselves, their families, and their futures. We can create the change we want to see – but we must show up to the polls. 

To learn more about how to get involved in our mission to achieve salud, dignidad, y justicia for every member of our community, sign up at latinainstitute.org or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.