Organizations promote voter registration

The right to vote is a powerful tool that citizens have, and the Latino community and young students are an important force. Their participation translates into actions and laws that benefit our community.

Daniela Rodríguez, a UC Berkeley scholar and reporter for Radio Bilingüe, presents this report.

In Fresno, Poder Latinx joined National Voter Registration Day by coordinating events in seven states with the goal of empowering the Latino community and making sure everyone eligible to vote is ready for the upcoming elections.

Norberto González, state director of Poder Latinx in California, explains why they specifically sought out students at the event held at Fresno City Community College.

“We are here today to ensure that students register for National Voter Registration Day. It’s a day that we at Poder Latinx have celebrated here in Fresno City for three years now, and we continue to try to encourage students to participate and register to vote for the upcoming elections.”

During the event, several young people expressed doubts about the voting process or had questions about the upcoming special elections, according to Norberto.

“Some students are scared. They think they’re going to vote today, but no. This is registration to vote in the upcoming elections. There have been a few questions about the special election coming up on November 4. And there are other people who say, ‘I registered, but I never received my ballot.’”

For the state director of Poder Latinx in California, registration and participation are key to the Latino community achieving improvements in their daily lives.

“If you want more classes, so you don’t have to be on a waiting list. If you want better streets, so you can get to school. If your community needs better parks. It all starts with one simple thing: registering to vote. And then following through and voting in the next election.”

Currently, attention is focused on a bill in California called Proposition 50.

“It’s a special election. This election will define the districts of your congressional representative. This is a way for you to make what you believe is possible for your community count. If you are not happy with your representative, this proposal is for you. If you are happy with your representative, this proposal is for you. Your voice counts because they will be able to bring money, or not bring money, for whatever you want.”

Norberto González points out that the measure seeks to open up spaces for representation in California’s Central Valley.

“It wants to draw new lines for Congress. And to open up a little more democratic and Latino representation here in the Central Valley. If you go to the website, especially poder latinx.org, you can learn a little more specifically where your home will be; in which district. This is a way to put a stop to what our federal administration is trying to do, to change so many laws, and not give us the opportunity to be valid as immigrants, as Latinos.”

Proposition 50 is the solution that California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing to counter what he calls President Trump’s “manipulated redistricting” in Texas and thus prevent Republicans from winning about five additional districts in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In the Central Valley, Districts 9, 13, and 22 could be changed if this legislation is passed. In addition to the electoral issue, the work that Poder Latinx at Fresno City Community College revealed other urgent needs among students, such as access to classes and food.

“There are very few classes and there are many students. And part of that is money: how much money goes to the state, the county, and specifically, then here, to Fresno City College. Another thing I want to tell you is that when we arrived early, there was a line, and you can still see it there. That’s the line for the food pantry. Many of the students have problems accessing food.”

Finally, Norberto González mentions that beyond barriers or fears, voting is a direct tool for change.

“That’s where I recommend and tell them that someday it will change. But that day will begin because we stand up, speak out, register, and vote.”

Poder Latinx will hold more events related to Citizenship Day and other topics in the coming days and months. For more information, visit poderlatinx.org.

Many thanks to Daniela Rodríguez, UC Berkeley intern and Radio Bilingüe reporter, for this information.