Univision’s Noticiero Univision Misses A Chance To Debunk Voter Fraud Myth

Written by Dina Radtke

Published

During a segment on Noticiero Univision about voting restriction laws and their disenfranchising effects on Latino voters, Univision failed to report that the in-person voter fraud that strict voter ID is supposed to prevent is not an actual threat.

On May 11, Univision news correspondent Luis Mejid reported on a recent study by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) that found out of the 27.3 million Latinos eligible to vote, close to a million could face difficulties due to strict voting restrictions, like limited access to the polls or voter ID laws, in 19 states.

Mejid reported that while an historic number of Latinos will vote in the November elections, “millions more will stay home” due to these obstacles. He explained that proponents of strict voter ID laws “say the objective [of the laws] is to combat voter fraud,” but failed to mention that in-person voter fraud -- voter impersonation -- has never been a problem. In fact, some have referred to strict voting restrictions as “a solution to a problem” that doesn’t exist. Conservative media constantly push the myth, despite Republican legislators admitting to “the naked political goal” behind these laws. Translated from the May 12 edition of Univisión’s Noticiero Univision:

LUIS MEGID (REPORTER): Some states have added voter ID requirements to those wanting to register to vote, others have cut the time available to register or have complicated the process of voting by mail. The obstacles are different, the results are the same. Protected by a recent Supreme Court decision that used to protect the voting rights of Latinos and African Americans, state legislatures controlled by Republicans have adopted rules that NALEO sees as discriminatory.

ARTURO VARGAS (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NALEO): I am most concerned with the rules in Texas. There are more than 700,000 Latinos who do not have the required identification to vote in that state.

MEGID: Those who defend the law in Texas say the objective is to combat voter fraud.

LEONILA OLIVARES: I don’t see it as something that is discriminatory. By no means do I see it that way. I want the law to apply.