ATLANTA — In a first-of-its-kind poll, Georgia's Latinos are expressing the issues most important to them and signaling what policymakers should emphasize going into the next legislative session.
GALEO commissioned the poll with BSP Research, which analyzes minority and immigrant voting behavior. After collecting responses via a survey for months, BSP weighed the data to reflect Georgia's Latino population with respect to age, immigration status, gender, ethnicity and other factors in proportion.
"Without a doubt (it) shows what the Latino community wants in Georgia," GALEO Director of Communications Alba Villareal said about the results.
It turns out Georgia's Latinos are concerned about the same things general voters are.
Georgia Latinos' Top Legislative Priorities
According to the poll, the top five priorities of Georgia's Latinos - regardless of voter status - are the economy and healthcare. Immigration rights and gun safety policy round out the top five.
Villareal said it's no surprise that people are concerned about what's hurting their wallets. Shifts in the aforementioned priorities will help everyday people - not just Latinos, she pointed out.
"I think that's super important to take into consideration the state that Georgia is in (when it comes to the economy) and the actions that legislators should take to make sure that these economic hardships get better over time," Villareal said.
She added that people should also note how Latinos feel about abortion access and climate change.
"The survey shows an overwhelming support for abortion resources for those who need it," Villareal explained, "contrary to the stereotypes of Latinos in general being conservative when it comes to women's reproductive rights."
Despite Georgia being in the Deep South, Latinos in the state align with Latinos nationwide when it comes to abortion access - saying those who need it should have the option for the procedure, according to the data.
Villareal mentioned that Georgia's Latinos are more conscious about climate change than campaigns may give them credit for.
"That's usually at the bottom of the barrel when people talk about the priorities that the Latino communities have," she said.
Data from the poll shows that 92% of survey respondents see combating climate change and pollution as an issue important to them. Many reported being personally affected by extreme weather, whether it was in Georgia or their home countries. Some respondents said these impacts have forced family members or friends to move or have to move themselves because of natural disasters.
Campaigns Aren't Reaching Them
A majority of survey respondents said they've never been contacted by a political party, campaign or organization when it comes to voting or registering to vote so far this year.
The data breaks down that 2/3 of respondents said they've never received a phone call, text, email or in-person contact. Of the third of respondents who said they had heard from someone, about half of that contact was outreach from the Democratic party.
"It's very interesting because, especially in the last election, we saw millions of dollars being put into outreach for the runoffs in the general election," Villareal said. "Yet we are reporting such high numbers of low contact rates in our communities."
Villareal said it's an area of growth for campaigns. With 400,000 registered voters in Georgia who identify as Latino, she said reaching out to this voting bloc can be a game-changer.
"With some elections being decided with such small margins, it's really important to know that we can make that difference in those elections and those results," she said.
Latinos Optimistic About Future in Georgia
Georgia's Latino and Hispanic residents want lawmakers to invest in transportation and resources for small businesses. They've taken on second jobs, postponed paying certain bills, and have skipped medications to save money, according to data. Some have even withdrawn from school due to costs.
Despite the economic hardships they say they're facing, Georgia's Latinos report being optimistic about their future in the Peach State. They reported being able to get ahead because they'll keep working hard, but they do believe the government has a strong role to play in supporting people who need help.
"I think this is a reflection of the Latino community as a whole and how we are optimistic; a lot of us come from immigrant backgrounds; we all come here for a better life," Villareal said. "Legislators should take advantage of that because we want the best for our communities here - not leveraging our voice when we are so optimistic would be a failure in the upcoming elections."
GALEO plans to organize the findings into a report for Georgia's General Assembly and deliver it to lawmakers ahead of the regular legislative session.
To view the key findings of the report, click here.