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NATIONAL LATINO COALITION RELEASES ITS FIRST-EVER VOTER GUIDE ON MAJOR PARTIES’ PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
Voter guide provides Latino voters with substantive information on candidates’ policy positions


WASHINGTON - As part of its Presidential Engagement Campaign, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 40 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, today released its first-ever Presidential Voter Guide which shares both major parties’ candidates’ positions on issues critical to the Latino community. The NHLA Presidential Voter Guide includes the candidates’ positions on a broad range of topics, from the economy to health and education, civil rights to immigration and criminal justice reform. It will be distributed through social media and other avenues.

In what has been a contentious 2016 presidential election, the guide is a substantive educational tool that provides Latino voters with information on where the two major candidates stand on key policy concerns of the Latino community. NHLA encourages Latinos to use the guide as a tool and also explore other available resources to learn about candidates and their policies. This guide is not an endorsement of either candidate or their policy positions.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded to NHLA's candidate questionnaire in March 2016. Despite multiple attempts, the Donald Trump campaign did not respond to requests to complete the questionnaire. The descriptions of his policy positions in the voter guide are based on his publicly-available speeches, interviews, and policy positions.

The year-long Presidential Engagement Campaign was launched in the fall of 2015 to initiate dialogue with all the presidential candidates. This nonpartisan campaign is the only initiative, on behalf of the Latino community, to actively and meaningfully engage with the candidates to elevate the discussion of the community’s main priorities. NHLA distributed the questionnaire to all the active candidates from both major parties on February 25, 2016, the same day of the release of the 2016 Hispanic Public Policy Agenda. The 2016 Hispanic Public Policy Agenda can be viewed here. ­­­

“This comprehensive guide ensures that Latino voters are informed and have the information they need to determine which candidate has earned their vote. In an election cycle that has often focused on negative rhetoric against Latinos, NHLA is proud to produce and distribute this valuable resource for not only our community but all voters. We are confident that this guide will help voters make their decision, whether they care about immigration reform, economic opportunity, civil rights protections, or any of the other key issues this guide covers,” said Hector Sanchez, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

"Latino voter participation has steadily increased, and, despite continuing challenges in turnout, Latino voters have been among the most informed, committed, and impactful of voters in presidential elections," stated Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Vice Chair and MALDEF President and General Counsel. "This voter guide is an important tool to help to ensure that 2016 follows this pattern."

A Spanish version of NHLA's Presidential Voter Guide will be available later today at
https://nationalhispanicleadership.org/campaigns/2016-presidential-engagement.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

| Michael Torra | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 425-0582 |
| Brenda Arredondo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (915) 373-1483 |

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 40 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

NHLA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Alianza Americas | American GI Forum | ASPIRA Association, Inc. | Avance | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute | Cuban American National Council | Farmworker Justice | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | Latino Justice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Council of La Raza | National Hispana Leadership Institute | National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators | National Hispanic Council on Aging | National Hispanic Environmental Council | National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts | National Hispanic Media Coalition | National Hispanic Medical Association | National Institute for Latino Policy | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc. | Presente.org | SER – Jobs for Progress National, Inc. | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.-Mexico Foundation