Why we need you.

As many of you may know, the U.S. is a country created by dreams and workers. Although not many people realize that this country provides us with many opportunities, we forget that citizenship matters. Citizenship gives us a voice for our people, the community and most importantly, it allows us to create a global change. Our voice gives us the power to change the country and the government. If we remain mute, we have no rights or opportunities. That’s why it’s important to vote. Even if a lot of people question me or say that their vote doesn’t make a difference or change anything, let me tell you, “YOUR VOTE IS WORTH A LOT!” Like you for real, a lot of people think that if they don’t vote, nothing happens to the government, our rights or the people. Can you believe it! A vote has the power to change a nation, choose the new president, and our representatives. Anyway, it’s not the people’s fault.

In this decade, not many people are educated about the importance of voting or have heard the impact it makes. Today, many young adults care about doing Tic Toks, or being on social media but forget the importance of voting. Voting is essential to living, it tells us our future and our rights. Wanting to educate yourself about the steps of voting or what it is, is an incredible big step and I applaud you for that.

Anyway, it doesn’t matter who you vote for, what matters is that you vote. Even if they are Republicans, Democratic, Liberals or another political group. What I want you to remember is that our vote gives us freedom and without freedom, there is no future. In short, B-Awesome like the Ballot!

 

– Edith DeJesus Sanchez

 

What we need to know about the 2020 Elections for our Latinx Community.

  • Latinos are projected to be about 18% of the US population, about 80% of those are US citizens. 
  • Although 49% of the Latino population are of voting age and are eligible to register to vote. Only about half (54%) of those are registered to vote. This means about 32 million Latinos are eligible to vote, yet only 18.5 million Latinos are registered. 
  • Every year nearly 1 million Latinos turn 18 and become eligible to vote
  • Records show that over 80% of registered Latinos vote in presidential elections and over about 75% of those registered Latinos voted in the 2018 midterm elections. 
  • New voter registrations of Latino Voters have consistently grown over other populations. In the 2018 elections Registration Growth rate of latinos increased by 21%, while white voter registration only increased 5% and Black registration only increased by 7%
  • Even with the increase of voter registration efforts, it is estimated that over 13.4 million Latinos are eligible to vote but have not registered for this upcoming election. 
  • In North Carolina, in 2016, the last presidential election year, the NC Board of Elections received over 17,000 new Latino voter registrations by July.  This year, another presidential election year, the Board of Elections has only received about 12,300 new Latino registrations 
  • There are about 220,000 Latino registered voters in North Carolina 
  • While parts of the country with a longer history of immigrant populations, such as Texas and New York, offer voting in multiple languages, North Carolina does not. Many people don’t know that they can vote early, that they can request language assistance at the polls or that they’re entitled to take time off to work. But if they do vote, that could make a difference. (Link)
  • The surge in Latino voters in North Carolina could make a big impact in this swing state come the November election. (Link)
  • A PBS report shows that since the 2016 election, the number of Latino voters in North Carolina has grown by 25%. During the 2016 presidential election, 164,000 Latinos registered to vote. Today, at least 219,000 Latinos have registered. (Link)
  • The Pew Research Center estimates that NC has about 338,000 eligible Latino voters, yet the NCBoE only accounts for 219,993. Leaving a gap of approximately 118,000 eligible Latino voters, which make up a 35% of the Latino vote.