For Texas Latinos, Voting Rights is Voter Education
By Rebecca Aguilar, NewsTaco
Guadalupe Ruiz walked into a voting precinct in the south Dallas Oak Cliff section to cast her ballot on the first day of early voting in Texas. This was a big day for the 60-year-old because she had never voted in her life. “I feel something inside and today I got it all out. For other people I want them to vote. I don’t want them to be like me if they don’t know how to vote” says Ruiz.
While Republicans and Democrats continue their legal battle on the Texas’ voter ID law that was struck down by a federal judge in October, Ruiz has joined 40,000 volunteers with the Texas Organizing Project (TOP) to get Latino registered voters out to the polls. Ruiz believes there are many Latinos like her in Texas, who don’t know how to vote or have any knowledge about their voter rights.
[pullquote]Facts about Latinos in Texas(Sources: Latino Decisions and Pew Hispanic Center)
*Latino population is about 10 million in Texas.
*Latinos make up 38% of Texas population.
*Texas has more than 3.8 million eligible Latino voters.
*Three out of 10 Latino voters are between 18 and 29 years old.
*In 2012, 56% of Latino voters identified as Democrats.
*In 2012, 16% of Latino voters identified as Republicans.
*2012- 61% of eligible Latino voters did not vote.[/pullquote]
Civil rights leader, Dolores Huerta joined Texas TOP volunteers on the first day of early voting in Dallas. She says Hispanic voters in the Lone Star state still don’t understand that their vote does count. “They don’t realize the power they got, and their power today is at the ballot box.”
A 2014 study by Latino Decisions, a political research center, revealed there were 3.8 million eligible Texas Hispanic voters in the 2012 elections but 61% did not vote. The study also revealed only 25% of eligible Hispanic voters were contacted by campaigns and community groups.
The personal touch may be the key in getting registered Latino voters to cast their ballot. In San Antonio, Silvia Alcaraz volunteers for block walks, phone banks, and social media campaigns. Alcaraz is a precinct chair and voter registrar. Her goal is to make sure eligible Hispanic voters know the candidates and issues in the midterm elections. “Deputy precinct chairs and precinct chairs have been armed with candidates picture cards with names and descriptions of issues and position running for in the November elections.”
Alcaraz who was born in Mexico became an American citizen three years ago and voted for the first time in 2012. She often shares her story with Hispanic voters in her attempts to get them excited about their vote. “Yes, I stress the fact that so many efforts from many people have gone into providing the right to vote for all the citizens alike.”
Joaquin Guerra, TOP’s Political Director says it’s important to continue educating Hispanic voters even after the elections are over. “We have a culture of being excluded, in order to overcome that culture we have knock on people’s doors, and build relationships one on one, not about politicians, but what’s important to them.”
Guadalupe Ruiz feels empowered now that she’s voted. She hopes her vote in the 2014 midterm elections will help protect the Texas Dream Act and the expansion of Medicaid benefits. She says she’s never had health insurance. Ruiz is block walking and calling Latino eligible voters to do their part “What I want to tell them is go to vote, vote counts for everybody, if you don’t go vote you don’t get nothing.”
Rebecca Aguilar has 48 awards and nominations for her journalism work, including several Emmys. She’s also very proud of her first award for being a “Social Networking Leader” in the U.S. She won it again in 2013. Today, she concentrates on freelance reporting and helping other journalists become better at their own work.
