Written to help Hispanics understand the electoral process more thoroughly and to encourage them to participate more actively in the political arena, this manual begins by describing the present status of the Hispanic electorate and then explains how laws are made, how Hispanics can influence legislation, and how to organize a voter registration drive. The section focusing on the Hispanic electorate points out that as the country's fastest growing population group Hispanics are accepted and courted as a significant political force. Discussion of problems includes noncitizen status of many Hispanics, poor voter turnout, low socioeconomic status, and non-registration. Analysis of Hispanic participation in the 1984 presidential election looks at presidential preference by ethnic group, education, income, and age. Opinions of different Hispanic groups pertaining to domestic budget cuts, nuclear freeze, amnesty, aid to El Salvador, military aid to the Contras, and other issues of interest to the Hispanic community are also examined. The section on laws provides a general description of both Houses of Congress and the legislative process followed by specific suggestions for influencing legislation. The final section of the handbook explains the steps to follow in order to develop and implement a Hispanic voter registration drive. (JHZ)