Progress Illinois

On Tuesday, the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and Univision Radio conducted exit polls of 1,210 non-native Asian and Latino voters throughout key Chicago-area precincts.  The results should send a wake-up call to the Illinois GOP.

In response to the question "How favorable to immigrants do you consider the Democratic/Republican party?" the exit poll found that immigrants have little confidence in the GOP:

That perception appears to have significantly influenced the way the 899 Latino immigrant respondents voted in some key congressional races:

- 10th District: 70% of Latinos voted for Dan Seals
- 11th District: 90% of Latinos voted for Debbie Halvorson
- 14th District: 82% of Latinos voted for Bill Foster

Here are the issues that shaped the overall immigrant vote, according to the exit polls:

"We're not putting it in any terms. We're asking the question," ICIRR's executive director Josh Hoyt said of the results gleaned through the project. "Those facts speak for themselves."

High school seniors conducted the polls at 30 precincts in heavily populated immigrant communities such as Waukegan, Joliet, and Aurora. ICIRR plans to post additional results throughout the week. Univision is also broadcasting the outcomes as part of the outlet's post-election coverage.

Stationed at an elementary school in their hometown, Waukegan High seniors Annette Mendoza and Kenia Diaz said they had no problem shaking opinions from the folks they surveyed throughout the day. "People want to speak out," Mendoza said. "They want to have their voice be heard."

The message that they're sending is clear, Hoyt adds. "Latino voters are united on immigration issues and if Republican leaders continue to focus on the most strident [immigration opponents] they'll lose these voters for a generation," he said.