Democracia USA Launches 2008 Central Florida Hispanic Voter Project

Democracia USA, a national non-partisan Hispanic voter registration and civic engagement program with operations in five states, today announced the launch of its 2008 Central Florida operation. D-USA also released an exclusive study which details the growth and complexity of the Central Florida Hispanic electorate.

D-USA began operating in Central Florida in 2004 when it registered 72,000 new Hispanic voters in the state. The success of that effort led D-USA to expand its presence to an operation now consisting of a regional director, Roberto Cancel, and a field staff of 22 canvassers that have been registering new Hispanic voters by visiting homes, businesses, community centers and public events. So far this year, D-USA has registered 13,000 new voters in Central Florida

The study presented by Democracia USA and conducted by Bendixen and Associates point to overwhelming growth and changes in voter demographics. The highlights include:

• The Hispanic population in the Orlando media market quadrupled between 1990 -2008 from 136,00 to 650,000
• The Hispanic voting population in the Orlando media market also quadrupled between 1990 -2008 from 66,000 to 234,000
• Central Florida Hispanics show a acute tendency to vote for the candidate not the party, making it the most swing prone voting bloc in the nation, with their allegiances switching between Democrats and Republicans in every state and county election since 2000
• Independents account for 34% of the Hispanic electorate in Central Florida, ahead of registered Republicans (22%) and trailing registered Democrats (44%)
• Between 2000 – 2008 the Hispanic electorate in Central Florida doubled growing from 6 – 12% of the overall electorate
• Democracia USA was responsible for registering 35% of all the new Hispanic voters in 2006
• The demographics within the Hispanic population continue to shift, with South Americans increasing their percentage of the populace and Cubans and Mexicans slipping slightly

“Hispanics in Central Florida are clearly an engaged bloc of voters, coveted by both parties, who vote on issues and candidates, eschewing party lines,” stated Jorge Mursuli, President of Democracia USA. “Democracia USA is thrilled to launch a newly invigorated voter registration drive in Central Florida that will empower an even greater number of Hispanics who want their voice to be heard in November 2008.”

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