Hispanics Fail To Gain Clout In ‘04

WASHINGTON — The rapid growth of the Hispanic population in recent years failed to translate into increased political clout in the 2004 election, according to a new report released yesterday.

While the number of Hispanics in the United States grew by 5.7 million between 2000 and 2004, only an additional 1.4 million voted, said the report by the Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research organization.

According to Gannett News Service, the report’s authors cited three key factors for the low voting percentage: The Hispanic population tends to be younger, voter registration is low among Hispanics and many Hispanics aren’t citizens.

“The population growth is very visible and very imminent,” Roberto Suro, director of the Pew center, told GNS. “But what this report shows is that the growth in political clout . . . will be some time in coming.”

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