¡DALE! Voter Registration presentation

Focus on Voter Mobilization LĂ­deres Congreso March 5, 2008

Latino Voting Facts • Latino youth (age 18-24) represent 13.2% of entire Latino electorate in 2004 • Latino naturalized citizens exhibit higher voting rates than their native-born counterparts.

• Latinos are a growing proportion of the U.S. electorate, and their registration and voting rates are growing at a faster rate than those of other racial/ethnic groups.

• In 2004, nearly 1.7 million of the eligible three million Latino youth (age 18-24) were unregistered.

• Multiple polls show that Latinos consistently list education, the economy/jobs, and sometimes health care at the top of their issue agendas, with immigration typically ranked lower than these other issues.

• With two out of five Latino citizens not registered to vote in 2004 (6.8 million), voter registration remains a key component of any Latino electorate expansion strategy.

Latino Population by Voting Age and Voting Eligibility 41% 34% 25%

Voting Age; eligible voters

Non-Voting Age

Voting Age; not eligible yet Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Table B05003I, Sex by Age by Citizenship Status (Hispanic or Latino). Available online at: http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ DTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&ds_name=ACS_2004_EST_G00_&-_lang=en&-mt_name=ACS_2004_EST_G2000_B05003I&-format=&-CONTEXT=dt.

Accessed February 4, 2007.

Reported Registration and Voting of Latinos 18-24 years old (2000-2004) 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0

2000 2002

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2004

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “Voting and Registration in the Election of November 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004,�

Current Population Survey, Table 4a. Available online at: http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/voting.html. Accessed January 24, 2007.

NCLR Observations 1.

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Strong evidence that Latinos judge candidates by their records and issue positions, not party affiliation alone Opportunities exist for party realignment and shifts in voting patterns Substantial room for increasing Latino participation which can be achieved with greater and more strategic investments.

Voting Mobilization Strategies In its 2006 poll of Latino registered voters, 16% of whom were new registrants, NCLR found three main voter registration vehicles used by voters: 19% Department of Motor Vehicles (youth) 16% Mail-in Systems 12% Community Registration Drives (Spanish preference)

Campus-based Model Targeting Young Latino Voters

Only reaches some (13% of young Latinos reported registering on campus, tied with registering by mail), but it misses the mark with most Latinos and those students attending 2-year institutions

New and Promising Strategies • • •

Mailing registration forms to youth on their 18th birthday Partnerships with school districts to register eligible students before they graduate from high school Community-based drives

Voter Registration Basics DO • Conduct nonpartisan voter registration drives • Educate people about their right to vote and how to exercise it • Conduct nonpartisan voter education activities

DO NOT • Tell people who to vote for • Tell people which party to register with • Endorse any candidate for office • Make evaluations of candidates positions • Coordinate activities with a campaign • Use language that could be interpreted as support for or opposition to candidates • Publicize the views, personalities, or activities of candidates

Creating Your Voter Registration Pitch 1.

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Introduction Identify Problem (for attention) Identify Solution Action

Tips •Think about the problem you will present ahead of time.

•What is a major issue/hot topic on your campus and/or in your local community?

•Use that issue to shape your voter registration pitch.

•There will be a certain percentage of people who will refuse to register for one reason or another.

•Do not spend time arguing with someone who is not interested in registering; move on to the next person and try to connect with his/her issues.

Action Steps • • • • •

Participate in DALE! Coordinate a voter registration drive in your community Participate in a drive Expand your sphere of influence and register eligible voters Share your efforts with NCLR

Action Steps: NCLR Resources • Participating Campus Tool Kit Nonpartisan Voter Registration Guide www.nclr.org/content/publications/detail/48439/ • The Latino Electorate: Profile and Trends www.nclr.org/content/publications/detail/46271/ • Lideres Network http://lideres.nclr.org