Voto Latino Comments on Texas State Legislature Maintaining Gerrymandered Electoral Maps

In response to the Texas State Legislature maintaining gerrymandered electoral maps, Founding President and CEO María Teresa Kumar released the following statement:

“The 88th legislative session in Texas will be remembered as one of the least productive and most damaging in the state’s history. Governor Greg Abbott vetoed more than 70 pieces of legislation, including legislation that would have made it easier for people living with disabilities to vote. The elected majorities doubled down on disenfranchising Latino voters and other communities of color across the state by maintaining gerrymandered electoral maps.

Since the 2020 census, it’s estimated that nearly 800,000 Latino youth will have turned 18, becoming eligible to vote by 2024. The inaction from the legislature is disgraceful and erodes the power of new voters. While Texas was the only state to gain two congressional seats in 2020 as a result of reapportionment due to the state’s population growth, its electoral maps are not reflective of the state’s diversity. Rather than creating fair maps, Texas increased the number of districts where a majority of voting-age residents are white despite 95% of the state’s population growth coming from communities of color. New Latino voters have an unprecedented opportunity to shape the electorate and our future; Voto Latino will continue the fight against these unacceptable electoral maps that continue to prevent fair participation in our democracy.”

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Voto Latino is a grassroots civic engagement organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Through innovative digital campaigns, culturally relevant programs and authentic voices, we shepherd the Latinx community towards the full realization of its political power.