Southeast organizations mobilize to increase voter participation in the upcoming elections

Maria Crespo was a bit nervous when she stood before the cameras Tuesday morning. Once she got comfortable, she encouraged Latinos to vote in the presidential elections on November 5th. 

The Vernon resident said her mother migrated from Mexico and saw her struggle growing up. The lack of resources in the community could have been fixed if more people had participated in elections at the local and federal levels. Therefore, as soon as she turned 18, she registered to vote and at 60 years old she has never missed an election. When her daughters turned 18, she also registered them to vote, and she hopes to do the same thing with her grandchildren. 

Crespo, a volunteer and a promotora for several years, joined the LA County Registrar, SELA Votes!, Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas (COFEM), Alliance for Better Communities (ABC), AltaMed, Latino Equality Alliance (LEA), SCDC, NewStart Housing and others in Huntington Park to amplify the Latino electoral vote in Southeast Los Angeles. 

This area is known for low voter turnout. Organizations and advocates say that in past elections, about 35% of eligible voters didn’t cast their votes. 

“A lot of the times we Hispanics want to vote but we don’t understand what are we voting for,” said Crespo. “Some people can’t read and write very well, but they have to know they are allowed to vote.”

Participants in the press conference reiterated that this is a very important election, not only because of the president or congressional seats but also at the local level. They said that many times, the lack of resources in communities results from the lack of votes during elections.  

SELA Collaborative Executive Director Dr. Wilma Franco agreed that language barriers, literacy issues, and a lack of information prevent potential voters from making their voices heard. That’s why the job of promotores is very important: They go out and talk to people, answer questions, and make people feel more comfortable. 

“Some people may think is just one vote that is missing but if a lot of people are thinking the same thing there’s actually a lot of votes,” she said. 

The canvassing continues

Luis Coronado, the volunteer with SELA Votes!, said in the past few days, they made phone calls, and now they are canvassing to inform people about the propositions. He said it is very important to educate people about what the change propositions do and don’t do in their communities. This ballot will include 10 statewide ballot propositions. 

“A lot of times the posts of the propositions on Instagram and Facebook are changing the narrative and people get confused,” said Coronado. “Then I tell the voters what they want. For example, ‘Do you want your kid to walk next to a prison or next to a park?’ That’s why the proposition selection is important.”

The Huntington Park resident said that people should pay attention to what the propositions do at the local level. For example, Proposition 5 could make it easier for governments to borrow money for affordable housing and local infrastructure projects. 

“This can help fix damaged streets, add more street stop signs, and dividers because some schools don’t even have enough stop signs,” said Coronado. 

Vanessa Aramayo, executive director of Alliance for a Better Community (ABC), said she’s very proud of the promotores and the organizations that are part of the coalition because the community trusts them. That’s why they came together this time to prioritize voter engagement and ensure that they are building voting intellectual power in the southeast LA region, a chronically underserved region. 

“Collectively since the inception of our program we have contacted, knocked on and called more than 120,000 voters in the southeast LA region,” she said. 

Aramayo said voting can be very challenging and intimidating in communities like SELA. She highlighted the importance of reading about the propositions carefully because they can impact local communities on issues such as housing, healthcare, criminalization, and education.

“In Southeast LA, there is also a school board race. We have a community member that represents over 63,000 students,” she said referring to the board District 5 member. 

Francisco Moreno, executive director of COFEM, thanked all the organizations participating because it strengthens democracy and allows more people to be informed. He said every election is an opportunity to make our voices heard and influence the direction of our society. However, it's not just about casting a ballot but relying on others to do the same. 

“Each one of us has the power to inspire friends, family and our neighbors to engage in this vital process,” Moreno said. “Let’s remember that civic engagement goes beyond the ballot box. It includes discussions, education and advocacy.”

Language is not a barrier 

Los Angeles County Registar-Recorder Dean C. Logan said representation begins with participation, and every eligible voter should have the opportunity to cast their ballot in an accessible way. 

“By voting you ensure that your voice is included in decisions that impact you, your family, your neighborhood and your future,” said Logan. 

The LA County Registrar is committed to ensuring language is not a barrier. That’s why they offer election materials in 19 different languages, including Spanish. The registrar’s website has information in Spanish and there are bilingual ballots available. The vote centers have multilingual election workers available to assist with questions and provide guidance to voters. The ballot marking devices at the vote centers are also available in Spanish and allow voters to switch back and forth from English to Spanish if needed. 

“Collaborating with community organizations like COFEM, AltaMed and SELA Votes coalition allows us to expand our reach into communities and encourage people where language barriers may prevent participation,” said Logan. 

He explained that every vote is secure, whether people mail their ballots or vote in person at a voting center. The County Registrar's office has rigorous protocols to protect the integrity of every vote in Los Angeles County. 

“We have very strong safeguards in place to ensure that no matter what language you vote in, your vote is protected,” he said. 

For more information on the election process, visit:

English:https://www.lavote.gov/

Spanish:https://www.lavote.gov/es