Teams of canvassers and organizers will host voter registration drives in central Florida and south Florida for National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, September 27, including at 519 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka.
The events are part of a civic engagement initiative lead by the Florida Immigrant Coalition in partnership with RCMA, SEIU, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) council 7250 , Mi Familia Vota, Dominican Association of Tampa, Young American Dreamers, Hope CommUnity Center and the Farmworker Association of Florida to mobilize communities of color to the polls this November and beyond.
According to the recent USCIS report published, Florida is leading the nation in newly naturalized citizens with a spike of 54 percent in the past year. Nationwide, 926,189 individuals have applied to become American citizens since this time last year, a 24.8 percent increase.
“Too many times our communities have been left forgotten by those who sought out their votes during election seasons,” Daniel Barajas, Executive Director of the Young American Dreamers, was quoted as saying in a press release. “Now we build our electoral power to demand plans of action from our elected officials, as well as hold accountable those who only continue to oppress us. This goes beyond any election day, because our work is for our children’s future.”
By focusing on issues like immigration and criminal justice reform, minimum wage, access to driver’s licenses, voting rights restoration and students safety and education, organizers, canvassers and volunteers have been encouraging immigrant and communities of color the importance of their vote in this year’s presidential, state and local elections.
“Our communities will not be persuaded by empty promises. We are actively reaching out immigrant and black communities to ensure all eligible voters have our families in mind when heading to the polls this November,” said Ivan Parra, South Florida Campaign Lead Coordinator, in the same press release.
Organizing teams will be present in Orange, Polk, Hillsborough, Miami Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and St. Lucie to strengthen community civic engagement.
For more information about the community’s engagement in this election season, read The Apopka Chief in print and online.
