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Latinos Cast Record Number of Ballots in California
Follow Up Analysis Shows Increased Bush Support

Los Angeles, CA - A turnout study conducted by the William C. Velásquez Institute (WCVI) showed Latinos cast a record number of ballots in the 2000 General Election. Latinos cast 1.61 million votes in the 2000 election, an increase of 268,000 votes or 19.8% over the '96 elections. Latinos also represented a record 15.2% of the total votes cast in California.

Latinos turned out at a rate of 70.4% across the state, according to preliminary findings, near the 73.0% turnout for registered voters across the state.

A follow-up analysis of election-day reported results of the WCVI exit survey of 814 Latino voters throughout the state of California revealed presidential preference was 76.6% for Al Gore/Joseph Lieberman, 22.9% for George W. Bush/Dick Cheney, and 0.5% for the third party candidates, Ralph Nader and Patrick Buchanan. Latino voters also indicated strong Democratic preference for congressional candidates 74.8% to 25.2% for the Republican candidate. Additionally, Latinos indicated opposition to Proposition 38 regarding school vouchers with 39.4% indicating voting in favor of the proposition to 60.6% opposed.

The follow-up analysis shows slight gains for George Bush, the Republicans and opponents of proposition 38 compared to results released by WCVI on the evening of November 7.

The WCVI conducted the exit poll and turnout study to measure how Latinos voted during the November 2000 presidential elections. Trained bilingual pollsters interviewed 814 Latino voters in 29 California precincts. The sample was designed to cover 90% of all Latino voters in the state. Precincts from 5% to 100% of registered Latino voters were included in the sample. The design is a stratified, two-stage, probability-based sample. Precincts were included in the universe if they met minimum levels with respect to number and percentage of Latino voters. Precincts were than stratified by geography and percent Latino voter population. The results were weighted for a more exact estimate of total Latino turnout in California. The margin of error for this study is plus-minus 3.4%.

A third phase analysis of Latino turnout will be conducted when precinct lists are made available to the public.