CALIFORNIA: Story of a Polling Station Inspector

Our colleague, Mari Lopez from the California Partnership sent another profile of a leader who is volunteering at the polls to help her neighbors vote.

Los Angeles, California

Yolanda James is working the polls today as an polling station inspector. She is on the other side of the table from where she has been during the time leading up to the elections. After working the streets to tell people about the election, the propositions, and their rights at the polling booth, she is now working at a Los Angeles polling precinct. Yolanda has also personally registered 450 people to vote.

“It’s important for me to do this because this election is so important and so historic,” according to Yolanda. “I’ve spent months making sure people who can vote are registered, understand the propositions on the ballot – and there are a lot – where their precinct is, and are going out to vote. Now, by working the polls as a worker for the county, I can make sure anyone who wants to vote are able to vote without any problems.” Yolanda, who volunteers for Coalition Los Angeles an organization that works on behalf of low-income communities, is a veteran of L.A. politics. She has registered new voters, walked precincts, phone-banked, attended rallies and anything else that helps bring people out to vote. “This particular election is special. These two tickets are making history” said Yolanda.

Yolanda has worked non-stop since August and won’t stop until 10 p.m. west coast time. The polls close at 8 p.m. but as an inspector she will be responsible for delivering votes cast at her polling precinct. “I’ll be here until every last voter in line at by 8 p.m. gets to vote!”

CALIFORNIA: Priest Gets Out The Vote

We got this update from Mari Lopez, who works at the California Partnership, which is a statewide coalition fighting poverty in California.

San Bernardino -- Father Patricio Guillen and Ramon Vera, from Liberia del Pueblo, an immigrant help center, endured Monday night rain to talk to voters before Tuesday’s election. They were determined to complete their voter contact list before the night ended. This morning they hit the streets again talking to those who have not yet cast their vote.

“We’ve been talking to as many registered voters as we can, whether they’re first time voters, older voters or anybody. We’ve even spoken to some veterans. Most everybody is saying they want change” said Father Guillen.

San Bernardino, a county that is heavily Latino is also a county where there are few resources for low-income families. “The people we’ve spoken to are concerned about the economy, health care and education. Even a veteran that we spoke with said that because of the economy, San Bernardino is going to need more money for social programs to help poor people with kids. That’s why he is voting,” added the 82 year-old priest. “Most people we've talked to are very hopeful.”

Father Guillen and Liberia del Pueblo have been involved in projects to mobilize the immigrant vote since early this year in San Bernardino. They have focused their efforts particularly on mobilizing Latino voters in anticipation of the record number of voters expected at the polls. They’ve worked to make sure that Latinos understand their rights, the propositions on the ballot in California and where to vote.

Father Guillen feels a particular responsibility during elections. “I’m out because when people see a priest walking for this election it really gets their attention. Part of our religious conviction is to participate not only in church matters but also in civic matters. And that’s what I tell people when I talk to them. But what’s most important, I tell them is that they go out and vote!”

CALIFORNIA VOTER STORY: After 28 Years In US, Voting For 1st Time

Here's an amazing story coming from the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA):

Listen to a short Spanish-Language interview with Zoila here.

In 1980, Zoila Taque had a small store in Guatemala, when she decided to come to the United States on a whim. She was trying to move on from a broken-hear and thought she would try a change of scenery in the United States. She had planned to stay for a couple of years, but then found a job at a local manufacturer in Los Angeles with good health benefits. During this time she was apprehended three times in raids by immigration agents. The third time, an agent joke with her that this time she would not return to Guatemala. She grew worried, but then the agent informed her that she was eligible for legal permanent residence through 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA).

By the 1990s, Zoila was clear that she would never go back to Guatemala, the United States was her new country. But she delayed applying for citizenship for fear that she might not qualify. A good friend of hers was always telling her to go the marches, but she didn’t think her participation was necessary. In 2007, this same friend insisted that Zoila apply for citizenship. The fees were going to almost double and there was no reason not to. She cracked open a large ceramic frog that had served as her piggy bank for many years. She had enough money to pay for the application fees and less than six months later she was sworn in as a citizen.

“I feel like I have a purpose,” says Zoila of her first time voting. Twenty votes could make a difference whether or not a candidate is elected or not and I can be a part of that.

Zoila now works as a household worker, but with the economic crisis has found employers less willing to offer her the work hours she needs to make ends meet. She began to volunteer with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) in early October. She didn’t really know much about the propositions, but jumped at the chance to give back to her community and also learn more about the ballot measures on the California ballot.

“Many of the voters have spoken to haven’t read their sample ballots and don’t know that Proposition 6 will harm young people and immigrant communities. I also want people to know that the bad economy is not my or any other immigrants fault. I work and although I’m diabetic I have no health insurance. Our vote is something that can unite us.”

CALIFORNIA VOTER TURNOUT: Serenading New Voters to the Polls in LA

Here's a great story from our partners at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA). Adapting a song that's sung on birthdays to Election Day was a very creative strategy for getting people to vote early this morning -- and it worked too!

At least two dozen of us nervously stood outside Ms. Rosario’s home preparing to sing “las mañanitas del votante” (Voter’s Serenade) to whomever swung the front door open. It’s 5 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4. Accompanied by two acoustic guitarists, these Get Out The Vote volunteers, many of them immigrants unable to vote themselves, cleared their throats and belted away. With energy and gusto, the troubadours sang to the best of their ability urging neighbors to come out and vote.

“Estas son las mañanitas, que cantamos para ti, para los nuevos votantes, que votamos aquí. Despierta el voto despierta, mira que ya amaneció, porque nuestros votos cuentan, para una justa nación.”

The song is based on an old tradition that matches foolishness and love accompanied by mariachi at the base of someone’s window to “awaken them” from their restful sleep. In our case, the song was clearly a motivational ballad aimed at encouraging voting and reminding voters that our community’s voice can in fact impact our nation’s future.

The targets of our singing, first time voters, came out smiling and a bit embarrassed. Who wouldn’t be taken aback by the sight of 20 or so individuals struggling to stay in synch with the two harmonious guitars? Media outlets accompanying our group captured every moment and the reporters would gather the persons’ first impressions: how did you like the serenade, will you go out and vote, is this your first time voting. Yes was the answer to all the enquiries and the impromptu chorus beamed with pride.

For the younger neighbors, the singers also offered the following song:

“Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping? Voter John, Voter Jill, Morning polls are open, morning polls are open. Go and vote. Go and vote”.

After six first time voters accepted our offer to vote at 7 a.m. we marched along with them the length of a football field and we cheered them on as they entered the polling place, Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Again, the smiles were broad and our energy heightened when each voter emerged from the building, an “I Voted” sticker, red as a beating heart.

Photo Credit: Mayron Payes

CALIFORNIA VOTER STORY: Lupe Helps Mother In California To Vote

Lupe Lopez from the Center for Community Change tells us her motivation for voting and how she helped her mother vote this election:

The first time I voted I was 18 years old in Puerto Rico. It was a rite of passage, which I hope is as memorable this year for first time voters (like my niece and nephew) as it was for me. At that time, it was a celebration. Election Day was a Holiday. We figured out who was going to stay home with the kids while the rest of us went to the school were we voted. Almost everyone walked, dressed in our best clothes, to our polling places. We all went to our designated classrooms, sat down, waited for the doors to close. In complete silence, each one of us stood up, went to the desk at the front of the room and got our ballots. We went back to our chairs. We voted, we stood up, we returned our ballots, we went back to our chairs. We waited, until the last one of us completed the ballot and returned it to the polling staff. We waited until the whole school voted. Then a bell rang, and all of us left the school at the same time ... it was a day off, we went home, connected with our families and friends, waited for the results. I was so proud to vote.

Today was the first time, since I moved to the United States in 1981, that I felt that sense of purpose, focus and celebration. I moved to Illinois in 2003 to a town of 1,200 people. In my small town, when I voted today at 7:00 am, there were no lines. There was constant movement ... voters coming in and out, voting, talking, greeting each other ... the beauty of voting in a small town is the feeling that we are all in this together, that differences in our choices will matter none when our community needs help, when our children need food, when our elderly need care. We may not be featured in the news, like some of our sister small towns in Wisconsin and Indiana in this election cycle, but our vote is important. We are voting not only for the next President, but also for our representative in Congress, for our state's senate and assembly, for school board, city council, judges and even our auditor and coroner. Our small town vote is important, especially when it comes to local, county and state elections. Vote, vote, vote ... and when you are done voting, help others to vote.

I helped my Mother this election cycle via a long distance call and the internet. I read to my Mother in Spanish, who lives in Southern California and is 83 years old, the multifaceted CA ballot, which included, among other things, 12 propositions. My Mother left her country at age 37. To this day, she will not vote unless she knows what she is voting for or against, and her selections are based in her values and believes. She carefully wrote her decisions on a piece of paper. When she talked earlier today with my niece, she was proud to tell her that today she will ride her electric wheelchair -- which is a scooter type machine -- down the road to her polling place. She will vote on this election, like all the other elections since her 38th year, by herself, with no further help from anyone. My niece, who is in college in Boston, was proud to tell her Grandmother that she had mailed her ballot in time for it to count in California, her home state. She is 19 years old and this is the first time she votes. My Mother, my niece and I differ politically in many ways, but there is one thing we agree on ... voting is not something to take for granted, it is a cherished privilege, and a basic step that links our three generations to our shared future. Whatever your age, whether you live in the big city, the suburbs, a non swing state, or a small town, make your vote count today.

CALIFORNIA VOTER TURNOUT: Lines of Voters in L.A.

Here's a short update from our colleague Mari Lopez, who works at the California Partnership, which is a statewide coalition fighting poverty in California.

Today in Los Angeles, there are lines of voters across the county. First time voters, long-time voters and everyone in between are excited this Tuesday to cast a vote for the next president, to defeat or support an initiative, and to be part of this historic event!

Lines began as early as 6 a.m. in many polling locations, as people anticipated long wait times.

First time voter, Miriam Mesa was excited to cast her first vote in a U.S. election. "I am truly excited to have been able to participate in this election. I was nervous, but it was great because there were a lot of people in line already when I got there at 8 a.m. and I was happy to be there with them!" Ms. Mesa is a Cuban-American who naturalized in August 2008.