by Katharine Ann Díaz
After voting, do you proudly wear your “I Voted” sticker? At work or out and about do you find yourself looking around to see who else is sporting a sticker? Congratulations, you are a conscientious U.S. citizen exercising your right to vote.
And you are the ideal candidate to use your enthusiasm to motivate others to vote.
According to California Secretary of State, Debra Bowen, an astounding 6.5 million people in California who could vote are not even registered to vote. That number is the same as 12 of the lowest voting states in 2008 combined. On top of that, the Public Policy Institute of California reports that of all unregistered voters in California, 23 percent of unregistered voters are white, while 59 percent are Latino.
A democracy, such as that enjoyed in the United States, is built on every citizen having a voice in national and local elections— from selecting the president of our nation to determining local elected officials. As a voter in California, you also have a voice in laws and propositions that can impact the quality of education in our schools, that protect workers to laws that guarantee rights for all underrepresented communities, including Latinos.
Some people may ask, “What difference does my vote make? I am just one person.” Yes, one person equals one vote. If your community doesn’t vote then voters in other communities will decide what happens to you. Talk about election deciders!
What can you do to help? This election year, commit to motivating at least 3 people to register to vote.
Here’s how to help them:
– Tell them that they can get a paper voter registration application at a library, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, U.S. post office or a county elections office.
– Stress how important it is that the form is postmarked or hand-delivered to their county elections office no later than October 22.
– Or show them how to register on-line by visiting: https://rtv.sos.ca.gov/elections/register-to-vote. It’s easier than ever now, and the information is also available in Spanish.
– Explain that they can also vote by mail. This way they have the time to consider the issues carefully and vote in the privacy of their own home. Just make sure to mail the ballot by the deadline noted.
– When November hits, remind your friends that Election Day is coming up on November 6.
– Help them find the location of their polling place.
– And make sure you tell them that you want to see them wearing their “I Voted” sticker after casting their votes. National Nurses United is the sponsor of this article.
(Katharine A. Díaz is a Los Angeles-based writer who focuses on Latino issues. Former editor of Hispanic magazine, her first cookbook, Sabores Yucatecos: A Culinary Tour of the Yucatán (WPR Books: Comida, 2012), was published earlier this year).
