PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — It’s that time of the year where you can exercise your right to vote, and local organizations in Pasco County are pushing to get more people to do so — specifically Hispanic voters.
At a table in Pasco County, it’s all about strategy: how to get more Latinos to the polls.
Vanessa Vasquez Anderson is co-chair of the Turning Point Latinos Coalition. She says voting is critical, not just in presidential elections, but in the local races that directly affect communities.
“I believe turnout is always a concern, so we want to make sure, especially when it comes to local elections when there isn’t a big-ticket candidate on there, to make sure an election is happening and to come out,” says Anderson.
Anderson is working with members of the Libertad Club Hispano Republicano de Pasco. She says they are trying to break down barriers, translating information and even going through training with the Republican Party of Florida to learn how to better connect with voters and recruit volunteers.
Anderson says it’s also about education. “Some Hispanics are a little old school and don’t know how to do the QR codes and things like that, so we have to be able to explain hey this is how you do it and how you get to the information,” she said.
The Pasco County Supervisor of Elections office (Spectrum News/Lizbeth Gutierrez)
Anderson said that Latinos make up a large and increasingly powerful portion of the state’s electorate.
Julia Hassler is the President of Libertad Club and says getting Hispanics to the polls is important. “It is so important that you get involved these coming elections about our community,” she said. “They are the people that directly impact our families, so it’s so important to educate yourself on the candidates.”
According to the Pew Research Center, in 2024 Florida had about 3.5 million eligible Latino voters.
It’s something both parties are tapping into. Pasco Democratic Executive Committee volunteer Vanessa Phillips says barriers like transportation and limited access to information keeps some Hispanic voters from the polls.
Vanessa Phillips with the Pasco Democratic Executive Committee (Spectrum News/Lizbeth Gutierrez)
So, their strategy is shifting, relying on family connections to spread the word and drive turnout. “We want to encourage them to reach out to their family members that can help them navigate through the process,” Phillips said.
Phillips says that local elections matter, affecting family’s day-to-day lives, so she is pushing to get more Hispanics involved and urging voters to learn about the candidates and the issues, regardless of their political party.
“Openness with candidates and hearing the candidates and what they are about is the best thing, so get involved with the local community and find out when the events are,” says Phillips.
Their message is clear, educating Hispanic voters so they can make informed decisions this election season, and have their voices heard.
Research shows that Hispanic voters in Florida are heavily concentrated in south and Central Florida.
