Spanish-Language Publications to Push for Latino Voter Registration

In an effort to bolster the country’s Latino voice in this year’s elections, an organization of Spanish-language publications on Friday announced a national voter-registration campaign.

Zeke Montes, president of the National Assn. of Hispanic Publications, said the effort will be waged through public service ads and editorials urging Latinos to register to vote.

Montes, joined by Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre, said that more than 130 Spanish-language publications circulating in about 25 major U.S. cities will reach an estimated 6 million Latinos with the voter registration message. In Los Angeles, El Diario de Los Angeles, La Opinion and Noticias Del Mundo are expected to cooperate in the effort, Montes said.

Alatorre, a supporter of Democratic presidential front-runner Michael Dukakis, said his endorsement of the voter registration effort was not aimed at helping the Massachusetts governor.

“Yeah, I’m identified with Mike Dukakis,” Alatorre said. “But I’m more identified as an Hispanic who’s concerned about his community exercising the right (to vote). That to me, I have to be very honest, is much more important.

“If all we have is numbers without any political influence, then we are impotent as a community,” Alatorre said.

Organizers of the voter registration effort said they have no specific goal in mind. But they noted that in states like California, where Latinos make up a large percentage of the population, their numbers are not reflected in voting strength.

According to 1986 estimates, Latinos make up about 20% of the state’s population of more than 27 million, but only about 27% of Latinos eligible to vote are actually registered. Nationally, the estimated 19 million Latinos represent a smaller percentage of the total population than in California, but about 36% of those eligible to vote were registered for the November, 1986, general election.

The Philip Morris Companies, which makes tobacco products and includes General Foods and Miller Brewing as subsidiaries, has contributed $40,000 to the voter registration effort. Gina Gallovich, a Philip Morris spokeswoman, said the National Assn. of Hispanic Publications had asked for the campaign funds.