Group projects 12.2 million Latino voters in 2012

[February 09, 2012]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- A national group of Latino public officeholders is projecting that 12.2 million Hispanics will vote in the general election this November.

The turnout projection was announced Wednesday by the bipartisan National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund. The group based its projection on average increases in turnout in previous elections as reported by the Census Bureau.

Hispanic voter turnout in 2008 was 9.7 million. The executive director of the officeholders group, Arturo Vargas, says a major factor for the increased projection this year is that an estimated 50,000 Latinos turn 18 each month.

Vargas says the numbers suggest that presidential candidates should develop an outreach strategy for Latinos.

[Associated Press; By SUZANNE GAMBOA]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.