It's Election Day in Yuma, Arizona and around the country.
It's not an exaggeration to say this is the most anticipated midterm election in recent memory.
KAWC spoke with voters in Yuma about what issues, candidates and propositions motivated them to vote today. We'll share some of their answers below.
Polls close at 7 p.m. today. If you are in line before 7, you will be able to vote. First results are posted at about 8 p.m. Stay tuned to KAWC for the latest results.
A study by The Latino Data Hub found that Latinos in Arizona work more but earn less. Despite having the second-highest labor force participation rate, they earn significantly lower incomes and have one of the lowest hourly wages.
Lluvia Mora is a 29 year old Yuma resident who’s voting priorities span from affordability, taxes and public education funds. Lluvia mentioned she is still undecided about the governors race and she’d like to Google information as she’s voting at the ballot box.
Q: What brought you out this morning?
A: I was looking over the propositions last night and I think one of the ones I was really interested in was just like maintaining our taxes low. Some of the ones in regard to our public education funds, those are really important to me as somebody that went to public school.
So I would just like those kids to maintain those resources that I possibly I had at that time. Bringing more jobs to our community, probably cutting our expenses down. I know that there's like a cap for food, so I think with groceries being so expensive nowadays, I would want something like that to kind of go into effect.
Q: Do you have a gubernatorial candidate?
I’m still a little undecided about our governor. I mean, I feel like I've always supported Katie Hobbs. But I know that the Republican candidate (Andy Biggs) also had some key points that I agreed with. So I don't know. Um, I'm still undecided.
Maria Consuelo Mora, an elder in her 80s mentioned she is concerned about ICE in her community.
Q: Por que viene a votar?
A: A lo que vengo es a votar. Lo que esta pasando que ya pare todo eso. Que ya pare la migración. Y pues venimos a votar a ver si cambia todo eso. (I came to vote. What is happening I want it to stop. The immigration issue. And so we came to vote to see if that will all change.)
Martha Leticia Meece arrived at the Yuma Civic Center alongside Maria Consuelo. For Martha this vote is for her ancestors and future generations. Her top voting concerns are immigration and the economy.
Q: Por que esta votando? (Why are you voting?)
A: Vengo a votar por mi abuelo, mi bisabuelo y mi papa. Que venían a trabajar duro y también nosotros hemos trabajado duro. Por mis nietos, por todos los que vienen y por todos los que nos han deportado. ( I come to vote for my grandfather, my great-grandfather and my dad. They came to work hard and so have we. For my grandkids, for all those to come and for the ones they have deported.)
Q: Que temas le preocupan mas? (What issues concern you the most?)
A: Inmigración y la economía. (Immigration and the economy.)
Pablo Sanchez is a 25 year old Yuma resident who arrived at the Yuma Civic Center to vote in person.
Q: Why was it important to show up today?
A: I just wanted to do my civic duty. And, uh, there's a lot not right in the world in this country right now and I feel like I can do my part in helping in the betterment of that. Just like the rights of minorities, the cost of living, the cost of groceries, everything. Things are hard right now. And I feel like even if my vote won't do all that much, I feel like I can help a little bit.
Some of the top concerns for Joe Barrera are taxes and affordability.
Q: Why is it important to vote in the midterms?
A: Well, it's a decision that comes around not very often. And when it does come around, I think you should make it count. I'm a believer that our taxes should stay domestically rather than go overseas.
Q: Is there a proposition that called you attention?
A:The one that caught my attention really for a while was probably the assignation of terrorist groups as drug cartels.
Avery Corners is voting for the first time ever.
“This is actually my first year voting, I don't really know for sure right now. Definitely just like to have my opinion out there and like have my vote count.”
According to UCLA LPPI, Arizona has the fourth-largest proportion of Latino-eligible voters in the U.S. Around 1.3 million Arizona Latinos are eligible to vote. The majority of Arizona’s Latino eligible voters are of Mexican descent, however, ethnic background does not dictate their political party. A study by Univision’s shows that 41 percent are Independents, 18 percent are Republicans, and 42 percent are Democrats.
We spoke to Alba Cendejas who said her priority is education.
“I am Republican, so I did vote all red," Cendejas said. “There are some issues that are important to us, of course, with the school suspending and then the identification of people, all that stuff matters.”
A study by UCLA LPPI’s Latino Data Hub shows that about half of all Latino eligible voters in Arizona have a high school degree or less education. Latinos individuals with different levels of education may vary in their priorities, perspectives and access to information. By adapting messages to align with these educational backgrounds, campaigns can foster stronger connections, address specific concerns and encourage voter participation.
Cristal Buckley is an educator in the Yuma High School District.
Q: What issues brought you out to vote this year?
A: The education race, the proposition for spending. Because it really limits how much money actually gets distributed in the classrooms and not just the classrooms, but the supports that support our students in the classrooms.
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KAWC will be speaking to voters in San Luis later. Stay tuned.
