(Oct. 1) -- In the November election, Hispanic voters could be the ones who tip the scales. That's why both parties are spending millions of dollars targeting the Hispanic vote, especially in swing states like Nevada.
Thirty-two days before the November 2 general election and those with Voices for Working Families are still working hard to get minorities registered to vote. The largest minority in Clark County is by far Hispanic.
Hispanic's also make up the largest minority group in the United States. Here in Clark County they account for nearly 25-percent of the population, totaling around 400,000. But of that population only 62,000 are registered to vote.
Andres Ramirez, with for Working Families, says, "What a lot of people misconceive is that they look at the total number of Hispanics, which is about 400,000. But of those only about 120,000 are eligible to vote."
The remaining 280,000 are either under the age of 18 or non-citizens, according to Ramirez, the director of the state chapter of Voices for Working Families. "We've knocked on 111,000 doors," he said.
And when they meet someone who is not a citizen, they help start them down the path to becoming naturalized, which can take a couple of years to complete. Ramirez says while the Hispanic vote could be the determining factor in the 2004 presidential election, once more Hispanics become citizens the Hispanic vote will wield even more power in coming years.
Ramirez adds, "Right now there are about 62,000 registered Hispanic voters. Over the next few cycles, I think you'll push over 100,000 registered Hispanics. With that number you almost got to pay attention."
But Ramirez says the largest group of untapped voters across the country is not Hispanics, but single women. He says 22-million women who were eligible to vote did not register for the last election.
If you have not registered to vote yet, you only have until Saturday, OCT. 2 to do it by mail. After that, you'll have to register in person. You can register at the Clark County Government Center or Registrar of Voters office near Cheyenne and Martin Luther King until Oct. 12.
