NCLR Marks National Voter Registration Day with Message to Eligible Latinos
Defeat bigotry on the campaign trail--register and vote!
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, as the nation commemorates National Voter Registration Day, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is urging eligible Latinos across the United States to register early online or at local government agencies or participating community-based organizations, including many NCLR Affiliates. NCLR will be launching its full voter registration campaign this fall.
"Latinos are part of the fabric of America, and our active participation helps ensure the electorate accurately reflects the nation and those elected lead responsibly. Our voices are critical, particularly as we see the presidential campaign season unfold, with some candidates intent on demonizing the Latino community and awakening a virulent nativist streak in our society. The best way to defend our community from bigotry, and to be true to our nation's motto, E Pluribus Unum, is to register and vote," said Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro, Deputy Vice President, NCLR.
Between 2008 and 2012, the number of Latinos registered to vote grew by two million (from 11.6 million to 13.7 million). According to recent projections, that number is expected to grow to 16.7 million in 2016. Part of this growth is fueled by the nearly one million Latino citizens turning 18 every year, and community efforts to register them and other Latino citizens of voting age. Nearly 10 million Latino voting-age citizens were unregistered in 2012, making voter registration efforts a critical component in the electoral growth of this community. The U.S. states with the highest share of eligible Latino voters are Texas, California, Florida, and New Mexico.
"We have already proven to be a critical factor in the winning equation for the White House and many races across the country, and our growth potential is still considerable. Bringing even more eligible Latinos onto the voter rolls and into the voting booth will strengthen the message that our community needs to be engaged meaningfully by candidates, and that candidates need to provide solutions rather than incite hatred if they want to win elections," continued Martínez-De-Castro.
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Latinos. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Contact:
Camila Gallardo
[email protected]
(305) 215-4259
SOURCE National Council of La Raza
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