Whether it is because of their age or the increased interest in this year’s elections, many people are voting for the first time.
And that includes members of the immigrant community, who may be the first generation in their family with the right to vote.
On Monday, at a table on the sidewalk, members of the Canal Alliance in San Rafael’s Canal District spoke with neighbors about the importance of voting. And while many in this Latino enclave may still technically be immigrants, most are not people who just arrived in this country.
“The fact is that over the last decade in the Channel, births have been the biggest source of population growth,” said Aaron Burnett, director of Civic Engagement. “And so families who emigrated here decades ago – and now their children, or perhaps themselves for the first time – can vote. There is a real sense of pride that they can call themselves American citizens and part of this democracy.”
That now describes Cris Parra. She arrived in this country in 2004 and became a citizen only two years ago. For Parra, the fact that she can vote in her first national elections evokes emotions.
“Nervous. Nervous!” Parra said. “I’m nervous because I understand that this is going to mean a change, not just for me, for everyone, you know? I feel like there’s a lot of people behind my back saying, ‘Okay, let’s do it.’ for anyone who wants it.” has no voice.”
She takes the responsibility of speaking for those who cannot, very seriously. But many people don’t. In Marin County, just over half of eligible Latinos are registered and only about half of them actually vote. That means only 27% of eligible Latinos cast ballots.
“And so the low-hanging fruit of improving democracy is going after registered Latino voters and letting them know how important it is to make their voices heard at the ballot box,” Burnett said.
He said if Latinos voted at the same rate as white residents, local elected officials would be forced to pay more attention to the issues affecting the immigrant community. But there may be reasons beyond apathy.
Some immigrants come from corrupt countries where voting is a sham. Or there may be language problems. Parra registered to vote in Spanish, but her ballot arrived only in English. That is something that could discourage many people from voting.
Yet, for someone who has waited eighteen years for the right to vote, Cris finds it difficult to understand why those who can, do not.
“I remember coming here and not being able to vote,” she said. “It was like, ‘Oh my God, the people who have the right to vote, why don’t they?’ Because they could do it for me, who didn’t have a vote, you know. And now that I have the chance, it’s like I’m going to do it for Cristina from the past, who couldn’t vote.
Organizers say the key to getting eligible immigrants to vote is highlighting local issues. The rest of the country may be arguing about who should be president, but people who might work three jobs to put food on the table are more interested in the things that affect them every day at home.
John Ramos
