Latino Voters

The Latino voter has become a significant factor in the upcoming presidential election in November.  A little over 131 million people voted in the 2008 presidential election.   Here are some facts taken from a CNN report.

(CNN)  Because of their growing numbers and presence in some of the key battleground states, Latinos are expected to play a prominent role in this years's battle for the White House between President Barack Obama and presumptive GOP nominee Romney.  The total population of the United States is 308.7 million.  There are 50.5 million Latinos in the United States.  By the numbers, here's a look at Latino voters:

16% of the total U.S. population in 2010 was Latino.
43% increase since the 2000 census according to the 2010 census.
59.4% of Latinos were registered to vote in 2008.
49.9% Latinos voted in 2008 presidential election.
42.7% of the Latino population is eligible to vote.
22.4% of Latinos in U.S. are of voting age but are not citizens. (NOTE: I wonder how many are registered to vote?)
63% of the Latino population is from Mexico.
67% of the Latino voters voted for Obama in the 2008 election.
31% of the Latino voters voted for McCain in the 2008 election.
68% registered Latino voters surveyed in 2011 said they would support Obama.
23% registered Latino voters surveyed in 2011 said they would support Romney.
61% of Latinos surveyed said they were Democrats.
14% of Latinos surveyed said they were Republicans.

Sources for these statistics come from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Pew Hispanic Center and the Brookings Institution.


My daughter-in-law is of Mexican descent.  Her grandparents on both sides crossed the river into Texas in the early 1920's.  Both her parents were born and educated in Texas.  She was born and educated in Texas.  She attended the University of Texas School of Law and is a practicing attorney.  For statistical census purposes is she and her several siblings counted as Latinos?  At what point does one cease to be Latino and become an American?