Check out this video by the Alliance to Develop Power (ADP):
Translation:
Camera Person: "What is your name?"
My name is Ricardo Alfaro Serna. I have been living in the United States for 35 years. One of my goals in life was to become a citizen of this country. Thanks to God, after these 35 years, I achieved this goal. And, I am in the ADP's Worker Center/Casa Obrera (the Alliance to Develop Power) fighting for a better future. I was one of a group of 300 new members who went to City Hall to vote. I feel proud. I brought the pamphlet telling me where I needed to go to vote. I think that my story has been perfect for this election. The candidates want change and I am a person of change. You have to fight for this (the flag). We are going to vote for change.
Camera Person: "Well done, Ricardo. And what is a specific change that you all hope to see?"
Ricardo: "Well, some of the changes would be in healthcare, education and bringing home the troops, no more wars or investment in Wars both here and in Latin America.
These are some of the reasons why we have been campaigning to get out the vote. We have called 5,000 people, urging them to vote. We have invited people over the phone to come to the polls. Our campaign has been successful. And all of these achievements are with one sole purpose: change.
Showing posts with label immigrant voters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label immigrant voters. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
WASHINGTON: Helping A New Voter Get To The Polls
Here's another inspiring story about the important work that volunteers are doing to help their neighbors participate in this election. This story from Washington CAN! is an example of many other stories around the country.
A major focus of Washington CAN!'s get-out-the-vote work this year has been new voters from immigrant communities. This year, Washington's many immigrant communities are turning out in unprecedented numbers, in districts across the state where they've been traditionally underrepresented.
Tonight, a volunteer doing GOTV phone-banking spoke with Maryan, originally from Somalia, now living in south Seattle. Maryan has been a citizen for four years, and registered for the first time this year. A mother of three, she felt that she needed to make sure that candidates that shared her values got into office. She was very excited to vote, but hadn't received the absentee ballot she'd requested. She knew she would have to go to her polling place, but she didn't know where it was and she worried about not knowing what to do if and when she got there.
Our volunteer put her in touch with Washington CAN staff who not only helped her locate her polling place, but drove her and her kids there and helped them navigate this important new experience.
Maryan is proud that she was able to do her part tonight by voting. Her children are proud, too.
And those of us lucky enough to be doing this work today, wherever we are, can be proud that our efforts helped one more of America's newest voters cast the first ballot of her life.
A major focus of Washington CAN!'s get-out-the-vote work this year has been new voters from immigrant communities. This year, Washington's many immigrant communities are turning out in unprecedented numbers, in districts across the state where they've been traditionally underrepresented.
Tonight, a volunteer doing GOTV phone-banking spoke with Maryan, originally from Somalia, now living in south Seattle. Maryan has been a citizen for four years, and registered for the first time this year. A mother of three, she felt that she needed to make sure that candidates that shared her values got into office. She was very excited to vote, but hadn't received the absentee ballot she'd requested. She knew she would have to go to her polling place, but she didn't know where it was and she worried about not knowing what to do if and when she got there.
Our volunteer put her in touch with Washington CAN staff who not only helped her locate her polling place, but drove her and her kids there and helped them navigate this important new experience.
Maryan is proud that she was able to do her part tonight by voting. Her children are proud, too.
And those of us lucky enough to be doing this work today, wherever we are, can be proud that our efforts helped one more of America's newest voters cast the first ballot of her life.
TENNESSEE: Organizing Led to Smooth Election Day in Nashville
Our partner, the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition sent us this update on how their organizing to get voters to the polls early helped Election Day go smoothly in Nashville.
The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and the Our Voice, Our Vote campaign strongly encouraged immigrant voters to participate in Tennessee's Early Voting, and the efforts paid off! Phone bankers, canvassers, and poll monitors discovered today that much of Nashville's immigrant population voted before November 4th, many of them citing the early voting mailings, phone calls, and Community Voting Days held by the campaign as reasons for their decision. These far-reaching, coordinated efforts happened only because of the participation of a variety of community groups, ranging from Asociación Latina to the Sudanese Center of Nashville.
Community groups also collaborated to make sure that all voters had a ride to the polls. The Our Voice, Our Vote campaign partnered with the Nashville Metro Taxi Drivers Association (many of whose members are also immigrants) and community volunteers to provide free rides both during Early Voting and on Election Day.
The result of this community-wide organization was that today went relatively smoothly! Lines were long only in the morning at most polling places, and few voters experienced Election Day difficulties. There have been a few reported cases of translation services being denied to voters, but widespread voter suppression has not been indicated.
TENNESSEE: Youth Canvassers Help Get Out the Immigrant Vote in Tennessee
This was shared by Karen Usselman at the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition:
The students are mostly Kurdish, and they have been canvassing and phone banking for almost a week with the "Our Voice, Our Vote" campaign. The area they are targeting is one of the most diverse in Nashville, consisting of Middle Easterners, Asians, and Latinos, and many of their neighbors are first time voters.
The response to their campaign has been outstanding! Virtually all of the people the students talked to had either already voted or planned to, many of them as a result of earlier phone calls made by the campaign. Kasar, one of the organizers of the campaign, said "I've been in the U.S. since 1991, and I've never seen the immigrant community so excited about an election."
ILLINOIS VOTER TURNOUT: Huge Effort To Turnout Immigrant Voters
From our partners at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights:
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) in coordination with host organizations, campaign fellows, and hundreds of volunteers are getting out the immigrant vote in an unprecedented effort. ICIRR’S New Americans Democracy Project “Our Vote is Power” campaign seeks to mobilize 144,000 immigrant voters today in the Latino, Asian, South Asian, Polish, Arab and Muslim communities of Chicago and suburbs.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) in coordination with host organizations, campaign fellows, and hundreds of volunteers are getting out the immigrant vote in an unprecedented effort. ICIRR’S New Americans Democracy Project “Our Vote is Power” campaign seeks to mobilize 144,000 immigrant voters today in the Latino, Asian, South Asian, Polish, Arab and Muslim communities of Chicago and suburbs. Starting at 6am today, volunteers arrived to the campaign headquarters. They were trained and sent to knock on doors, drop literature with polling place information and to place posters in businesses encouraging voters to go to the polls. After only 2 hours of work, several of the precincts reported hundreds of voters casting their ballots. In addition, 65 high school seniors have been conducting exit polling since 7 this morning in designated areas including precincts in Waukegan, Joliet, Aurora, Bridgeview, Melrose Park, Berwyn, and other areas of south, north, and west Chicago.
Below, please find the campaign headquarters’ addresses and people to contact if your media outlet is interested in recording activity about our efforts to mobilize non-partisan immigrant vote as well as to interview E-Day coordinators and volunteers.
COLORADO VOTER SUPPRESSION: Spanish-Speaking Voters Air Complaints in Weld County
This just in! Our friends at the Colorado Progressive Coalition report that some Spanish-speaking voters were given voting instructions that were printed only in English and that few translators were available to explain them.
Here's the story.
Here's the story.
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.”
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.”
NEW JERSEY VOTER STORY: Voting For Those Who Can't
Check out this incredible, powerful video featuring Reynalda, a volunteer with New Labor in New Jersey. It reminds us what voting is all about!
ILLINOIS: Check Out This Get Out The Vote Rally
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (ICIRR) will make sure that immigrants will be heard on Election Day! Some very powerful speakers here:
NEW MEXICO: Somos Un Pueblo Unido Getting Out the Vote
Norma Moreno sends these photos from New Mexico:
New Mexico immigrants' rights organization Somos Un Pueblo Unido has been hard at work registering hundreds of first-time Latino voters and providing information about the voting process to thousands more who, although already registered, were considered "unlikely to vote." Over 75 Latino youth, immigrants and allies canvassed and phone banked the fastest growing Hispano/Latino working class district in Santa Fe, neighborhoods where Somos members work and live. On Election Day dozens of volunteers, many who are not eligible to vote themselves, are helping voters get to the polls and making sure that our community's vote counts.
New Mexico immigrants' rights organization Somos Un Pueblo Unido has been hard at work registering hundreds of first-time Latino voters and providing information about the voting process to thousands more who, although already registered, were considered "unlikely to vote." Over 75 Latino youth, immigrants and allies canvassed and phone banked the fastest growing Hispano/Latino working class district in Santa Fe, neighborhoods where Somos members work and live. On Election Day dozens of volunteers, many who are not eligible to vote themselves, are helping voters get to the polls and making sure that our community's vote counts.
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!
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
VIRGINIA: AYUDA Reports From the Ground
AYUDA provides an update about on-the-ground efforts in Virginia to get out the vote, particularly in immigrant communities:
AYUDA is one of the region's most well-known organizations that provide legal services for immigrants. This year, we conducted a Latino Voter Engagement drive, focusing on key counties in Northern Virginia. Our activities ranged from polling Latino's about what issues are important to them when they vote to holding voter registration drives at festivals and soccer tournaments. The main goal of the program was to ensure that more Latinos participated in this election. Although there is a significant population of Latino voters, in previous elections they have turned out at much lower levels then other communities. Our GOTV efforts, up to election day, have strived to make this a possibility.
Despite the menacing weather, voters in Northern Virginia are turning out in full-force. The polling places that I visited in Woodbridge, Annandale, Springfield, Chantilly, and Centreville all seemed to be working smoothly. The most common problem facing the voters is sheer volume. Fortunately the lines have shortened as the day has progressed, especially after the lunch hour. I would venture to guess that they will grow again at the end of the work day; luckily Virginia's polls are open until 7 p.m.
Our day isn't all about checking the polling places, rather about getting people the reminders the want and need. Many Latino voters who we contacted during our GOTV phone bankings asked for email, calls,and text message reminders the day of the election.One of the voters who asked for an email reminder thanked me and enthusiastically said "ya estoy listo para votar", I am very ready to vote.
This sentiment is felt across board. Arriving at a polling place, one can detect an energy created by all of the excitement. This is such a historical year, and people want to be a part of it. One of the AYUDA staff members shared the story about her father. He is a first time voter this year becuase he has recently become a US citizen after living in the US as a legal resident for over 20 years. He was so excited by the process, and so inspired by one of the candidates, that he took off work today to make sure that he could cast his vote. As a truck driver, he would have been out of the state today and he was not willing to miss out on having his voice heard.
Today has not been free from complications, however. One voter in Fairfax county was turned away from the polls today because she had requested an absentee ballot but had decided to vote in person instead. She called Fairfax County and they told her that she should bring her absentee ballot to the poll and that she could vote in person. However, when she arrived they told her that she couldn't. She talked to an election protection person and has now travelled to the Fairfax County government center to get this taken care of.
Because of the long lines, some voters are experiencing setbacks. One voter in Alexandria had to wait in line over an hour, even though she arrived at 6:10 a.m. Fortunately, those who showed up for the polls an hour later were not faced with the same wait. The same voter had problems with the poll workers when she asked for a paper ballot. They tried to convince her of how great the electronic voting machines are, but eventually she was able to use a paper ballot as requested.
Since our staff and volunteers have offered to share their observations, I am also able to report on areas outside of Northern Virginia, including Germantown, Maryland. Claus Ortega, AYUDA's office manager arrived at the voting place in Germantown at 8 am and had to wait in line 1.25 hours. Claus noted that this is the first time in an election that he saw so many people in line early in the morning, but they all looked calm and happy to be there, there was a lot of cooperation from everybody in keeping order and helping anyone who wasn't sure what to do.He also noticed that there were no campaign workers distributing pamphlets or advising voters and that the amount of voting machines has been reduced to about 10 compared to previous elections in which there about 30. Another change was that at the beginning that caught Claus' attention was that he was asked for more personal information to get his voting card (first four letters of his last name plus first two letters of his first name plus the month and day of his birthday plus the name of the street where he resides.) In previous years, there were tables for diferent alphabet groups and all he needed to do was to provide his last name.
Although we have a few hours to go to see how many people turned out, at this point it is looking promising. From seeing the overflowing polling places, hearing accounts of much higher numbers from previous years, and the sheer excitement exuded by voters, it is easy to see that the turn out numbers will not be disappointing.
MAINE VOTER TURNOUT: Maine People's Alliance Mobilizing Voters!
Here's a quick video about how Maine People's Alliance (MPA) is getting out the vote and the values that are motivating voters this election:
Also, Andrew Dolby, from the MPA staff, sent us this update:
Here are some great pictures from the Immigrant Speakout events we organized on Saturday, November 1st in coordination with the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition. Over 70 immigrant leaders attended events in Portland and Lewiston, Maine's cities with the highest population of immigrants and refugees. They talked about issues of community concern and got mobilized to do voter outreach in immigrant and refugee communities. Today, Election Day, we have interpreters for Somali, Acholi, and Spanish at polling places in immigrant neighborhoods to assist limited-English speaking voters. There is a lot of excitement about making sure the immigrant voice heard this year!
Also, Andrew Dolby, from the MPA staff, sent us this update:
Here are some great pictures from the Immigrant Speakout events we organized on Saturday, November 1st in coordination with the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition. Over 70 immigrant leaders attended events in Portland and Lewiston, Maine's cities with the highest population of immigrants and refugees. They talked about issues of community concern and got mobilized to do voter outreach in immigrant and refugee communities. Today, Election Day, we have interpreters for Somali, Acholi, and Spanish at polling places in immigrant neighborhoods to assist limited-English speaking voters. There is a lot of excitement about making sure the immigrant voice heard this year!
NEW YORK: An Exit Poll for New Americans
Norman Eng with the NY Immigration Coalition shares what his organization is doing on Election Day to monitor the polls:
Exit poll data-entry teams camped out in the NYIC's conference room.
It's a busy day at the New York Immigration Coalition, to say the least. In addition to making a final push to get immigrant voters out to the polls today, we're coordinating the citywide New Americans Exit Poll to track the voting behaviors and opinions of New York City voters, with an emphasis on voters in immigrant communities.
We have more than 120 exit pollsters stationed at 32 sites throughout the city, teams of runners and poll supervisors, and an army of data entry folks camped out in our conference room and cubicles to input the survey results as they roll in.
This is the fifth time we've run the exit poll. Past poll results have shown that, in New York City, two out of three first-time voters are foreign-born; in other words, immigrants are the driving force behind the expanding electorate here.
We expect to be here late into the evening inputing data, and we're excited to release the findings on Thursday. Thanks to Barnard College, Columbia University, the City University of New York, and the New York Latino Research and Resources Network for sponsoring the poll!
It's a busy day at the New York Immigration Coalition, to say the least. In addition to making a final push to get immigrant voters out to the polls today, we're coordinating the citywide New Americans Exit Poll to track the voting behaviors and opinions of New York City voters, with an emphasis on voters in immigrant communities.
We have more than 120 exit pollsters stationed at 32 sites throughout the city, teams of runners and poll supervisors, and an army of data entry folks camped out in our conference room and cubicles to input the survey results as they roll in.
This is the fifth time we've run the exit poll. Past poll results have shown that, in New York City, two out of three first-time voters are foreign-born; in other words, immigrants are the driving force behind the expanding electorate here.
We expect to be here late into the evening inputing data, and we're excited to release the findings on Thursday. Thanks to Barnard College, Columbia University, the City University of New York, and the New York Latino Research and Resources Network for sponsoring the poll!
NEW MEXICO VOTER STORY: Immigrant Votes For The First Time
We got an awesome video of a first-time immigrant voter in New Mexico. Norma Moreno, an organizer with Somos Un Pueblo Unido reports:
Veronica Lozano is a first-time voter in Santa Fe, NM. Born in Califonia, but raised in Mexico, Lozano came back to the US eight years ago. Lozano said she didn't vote in the last presidential election because she didn't know how the electoral process works and she didn't ask anyone to help her. This year Somos un Pueblo Unido, a civil and immigrant rights organization in Santa Fe, NM, was able to register, and give her a ride to the Early Voting Site in the Santa Fe County Clerk's office, in Santa Fe, NM.
Translation:
Caption: Veronica Lozano – Voted for the first time – Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office
Caption: Lozano supports Immigration Reform in the United States.
Camera person: “What motivated you to vote in this Presidential Election?”
Veronica: Well, for example, we as Latinos will be able to have more help.
Camera person: “What type of help do you mean?”
Veronica: For example, the ability to have documents (for immigration status). Its important because Latinos have suffered a lot over the course of many years to come here. And once they are here they have been discriminated against for not having papers.
Camera Person: “What other issues are important to your family?”
Veronica: What I like a lot is that he is promising medical insurance for all Latinos.
Camera Person: "What was your experience of the electoral process in New Mexico like?”
Veronica: At first I was nervous, but now I am happy to have participated.
Veronica Lozano is a first-time voter in Santa Fe, NM. Born in Califonia, but raised in Mexico, Lozano came back to the US eight years ago. Lozano said she didn't vote in the last presidential election because she didn't know how the electoral process works and she didn't ask anyone to help her. This year Somos un Pueblo Unido, a civil and immigrant rights organization in Santa Fe, NM, was able to register, and give her a ride to the Early Voting Site in the Santa Fe County Clerk's office, in Santa Fe, NM.
Translation:
Caption: Veronica Lozano – Voted for the first time – Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office
Caption: Lozano supports Immigration Reform in the United States.
Camera person: “What motivated you to vote in this Presidential Election?”
Veronica: Well, for example, we as Latinos will be able to have more help.
Camera person: “What type of help do you mean?”
Veronica: For example, the ability to have documents (for immigration status). Its important because Latinos have suffered a lot over the course of many years to come here. And once they are here they have been discriminated against for not having papers.
Camera Person: “What other issues are important to your family?”
Veronica: What I like a lot is that he is promising medical insurance for all Latinos.
Camera Person: "What was your experience of the electoral process in New Mexico like?”
Veronica: At first I was nervous, but now I am happy to have participated.
WASHINGTON VOTER STORY: Sandy's Story
Read this powerful story of a young woman getting out the immigrant vote:
Sixteen year old Sandy is getting out the vote so that other kids won’t have to go through what she did. When her parents were unable to get citizenship and were deported, she witnessed first hand the lack of respect and honesty our government can have when dealing with immigrants. When she learned that she could help empower immigrants and get their voices heard through their votes, she jumped at the chance. She’s spent the weeks leading up to this election going door-to-door in immigrant communities and communities of color. She’s encouraging infrequent voters from these underrepresented communities to cast their ballots and elect representation that respects their values and will deal with them honestly.
Sandy is working with Washington CAN! to turn out the immigrant vote in Seattle’s Eastside suburbs. “Not all people of color are respected, and they aren’t taken in mind because they aren’t like all Americans,” she says. Voting in numbers gets communities noticed, and Sandy is working hard to make sure that every immigrant than can vote does. “Immigrants are excluded, but this is a way to get included.” New immigrant communities and communities of color in cities like Bellevue, Kent and Renton have the opportunity this election to determine the outcome of a number of important races.
Sandy is part of a crew of young immigrants and youth of color for whom getting out the vote is more than just a job. “I want to inform people about immigrants and give respect to them,” she says. “They aren’t included, and they should be. They are important.”
A greater immigrant voice in politics will ensure that the issues confronting young people like Sandy will become more of a priority for elected officials. She’d like to see comprehensive immigration reform that will end the current enforcement-only approach that breaks up families. “I hope it actually makes a difference and stops them tearing people apart.”
So far, it’s making a huge difference. In the last month, Sandy and her crew have knocked on over 7,000 doors, and spoken with thousands of new and infrequent voters from underrepresented communities. The reception from immigrants and people of color who have long felt overlooked has been overwhelmingly positive. People are constantly telling Sandy how glad they are that she’s talking to them about why it’s important to vote. More importantly, the vast majority of people she speaks with agree that this election is their chance to be heard, and they are going to vote.
“People support us. It’s pretty awesome.”
Sixteen year old Sandy is getting out the vote so that other kids won’t have to go through what she did. When her parents were unable to get citizenship and were deported, she witnessed first hand the lack of respect and honesty our government can have when dealing with immigrants. When she learned that she could help empower immigrants and get their voices heard through their votes, she jumped at the chance. She’s spent the weeks leading up to this election going door-to-door in immigrant communities and communities of color. She’s encouraging infrequent voters from these underrepresented communities to cast their ballots and elect representation that respects their values and will deal with them honestly.
Sandy is working with Washington CAN! to turn out the immigrant vote in Seattle’s Eastside suburbs. “Not all people of color are respected, and they aren’t taken in mind because they aren’t like all Americans,” she says. Voting in numbers gets communities noticed, and Sandy is working hard to make sure that every immigrant than can vote does. “Immigrants are excluded, but this is a way to get included.” New immigrant communities and communities of color in cities like Bellevue, Kent and Renton have the opportunity this election to determine the outcome of a number of important races.Sandy is part of a crew of young immigrants and youth of color for whom getting out the vote is more than just a job. “I want to inform people about immigrants and give respect to them,” she says. “They aren’t included, and they should be. They are important.”
A greater immigrant voice in politics will ensure that the issues confronting young people like Sandy will become more of a priority for elected officials. She’d like to see comprehensive immigration reform that will end the current enforcement-only approach that breaks up families. “I hope it actually makes a difference and stops them tearing people apart.”
So far, it’s making a huge difference. In the last month, Sandy and her crew have knocked on over 7,000 doors, and spoken with thousands of new and infrequent voters from underrepresented communities. The reception from immigrants and people of color who have long felt overlooked has been overwhelmingly positive. People are constantly telling Sandy how glad they are that she’s talking to them about why it’s important to vote. More importantly, the vast majority of people she speaks with agree that this election is their chance to be heard, and they are going to vote.
“People support us. It’s pretty awesome.”
Monday, November 3, 2008
COLORADO: New Americans Likely to Impact The Election
Here's a statement from Rights for All People in Colorado about the growing political power of immigrants and their children.
New Americans, immigrants who have recently become citizens, are the fastest growing electorate in America. Strong evidence that suggests they can impact the outcome of the election in swing states such as Colorado. According to a new report by the Immigration Policy Center, New Americans counted for 5.5% of all registered voters in Colorado in 2004, while the margin of victory in the 2004 Presidential race amounted to only 4.3% of registered voters. Not only have there been record-breaking naturalization and voter registration drives in 2008, but immigrants have become more engaged in their local communities regardless of their immigration status. Democracy is for everyone.
Political attacks on immigrants have increased, and the community has responded by becoming active. Rights for All People/Derechos Para Todos (RAPs) has organized efforts to increase civic participation among immigrants. RAP’s role has been to bring the voices of immigrants directly to the policy process regardless of whether someone can vote or not. The organization is working to ensure that community residents are heard, especially about the difficulty immigrants have in achieving citizenship due to the broken U.S. immigration system. RAP has provided citizenship classes to over 90 people from 2007 to 2008. RAP members have played a significant role in advocating for comprehensive immigration reform, and have conducted numerous “Know Your Rights” campaigns to their communities.
RAP believes that immigrant participation in the civic process begins before citizenship. Non-citizen immigrants are likely to become citizens, but begin to develop their political behavior long before the ceremony. There are many immigrants who cannot currently vote, but everyone can have a significant impact on the voting behavior of their citizen friends, family, and co-workers. As a result, RAP has focused developing civic leadership skills among non-citizen immigrants through its unique Friend-to-Friend Program. This program utilizes the untapped base of non-citizen immigrants by organizing them to contact citizens they know and encourage them to vote.
The path for hardworking immigrants to be productive citizens, civic leaders, and respected members of society has already been paved. As New Americans turn out to vote in numbers, their voices will truly be heard.
New Americans, immigrants who have recently become citizens, are the fastest growing electorate in America. Strong evidence that suggests they can impact the outcome of the election in swing states such as Colorado. According to a new report by the Immigration Policy Center, New Americans counted for 5.5% of all registered voters in Colorado in 2004, while the margin of victory in the 2004 Presidential race amounted to only 4.3% of registered voters. Not only have there been record-breaking naturalization and voter registration drives in 2008, but immigrants have become more engaged in their local communities regardless of their immigration status. Democracy is for everyone.
Political attacks on immigrants have increased, and the community has responded by becoming active. Rights for All People/Derechos Para Todos (RAPs) has organized efforts to increase civic participation among immigrants. RAP’s role has been to bring the voices of immigrants directly to the policy process regardless of whether someone can vote or not. The organization is working to ensure that community residents are heard, especially about the difficulty immigrants have in achieving citizenship due to the broken U.S. immigration system. RAP has provided citizenship classes to over 90 people from 2007 to 2008. RAP members have played a significant role in advocating for comprehensive immigration reform, and have conducted numerous “Know Your Rights” campaigns to their communities.
RAP believes that immigrant participation in the civic process begins before citizenship. Non-citizen immigrants are likely to become citizens, but begin to develop their political behavior long before the ceremony. There are many immigrants who cannot currently vote, but everyone can have a significant impact on the voting behavior of their citizen friends, family, and co-workers. As a result, RAP has focused developing civic leadership skills among non-citizen immigrants through its unique Friend-to-Friend Program. This program utilizes the untapped base of non-citizen immigrants by organizing them to contact citizens they know and encourage them to vote.
The path for hardworking immigrants to be productive citizens, civic leaders, and respected members of society has already been paved. As New Americans turn out to vote in numbers, their voices will truly be heard.
Friday, October 31, 2008
FLORIDA TURNOUT: "Take Back the Vote" Mobilizes Florida Voters: Video by Miami Workers Center
Check out this cool video by the "Take Back the Vote" campaign of the Miami Workers Center. Not only is this campaign mobilizing immigrants and communities of color to vote but they are also engaging these folks in a larger struggle for social and economic justice.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
FLORIDA TURNOUT: Early Voting in Florida: Video By Miami Grassroots Groups
Check out this video produced by the Miami Herald documenting an early voting rally organized by the Florida Immigrant Coalition and Miami Workers Center, among other groups.
And here's an op-ed from the Miami Herald by Maria Rodriguez from the Florida Immigrant Coalition and Gihan Perera from Miami Workers Center.
And here's an op-ed from the Miami Herald by Maria Rodriguez from the Florida Immigrant Coalition and Gihan Perera from Miami Workers Center.
Alliance Says It’s Registered Half-million Immigrant Voters
Yay! 500,000 new immigrant voters just in time for the presidential election! Let's just hope that their votes will be protected.
By Juan Castillo
Austin American-Statesman
Voter mobilization groups from across the country said Monday they had attained their collective goal to register 500,000 new immigrant voters in time for the presidential election and would shift their efforts to turning out 1 million immigrant voters in battleground states.
“We’re reaching the next phase of this amazing journey we began in 2006 together,” said Rudy Lopez, deputy director for politics with the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Community Change. The center is one of the 14 partners in the We Are America Alliance, which sprang from the 2006 nationwide protests in support of comprehensive immigration reform. An estimated 4 million people took to the streets in demonstrations across the country.
The alliance says it is spending $10 million in its coordinated registration and voter mobilization effort, which it describes as unprecedented in Latino, Asian and immigrant communities.
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