You can register to vote weeks before the election and even send your ballot by regular mail
Still not registering to vote? Not sure if your data is up to date? Not sure if you have your registration in order? No problem.
If you missed the deadline, which was February 19, to do this process, you can still do it. It has never been so easy to participate in the electoral elections as now.
“In California you can register the [mismo] Election Day, ”said Juliana Cabrales, director of citizen participation for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials — an organization that develops and implements programs that promote the integration of Latino immigrants into American society.
The process, called Same Day Voter Registration, involves going to a polling place, county elections office, or polling place to fill out the voting form.
Once the data is verified, you will be given a ballot so that the person can mark it and deliver it right there.
There are other ways to sign up to pay
Nor is it necessary to wait until the day of the election to complete this process.
You can vote in advance on any date before Tuesday, November 3.
Just go to caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov to locate early voting locations in your county.
Remember that in these elections not only the presidency of the country is at stake, but also dozens of local and state proposals. In addition, 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 34 out of a hundred seats in the Senate will be voting.
According to census data, at the beginning of this year, 41% of Latino registered voters in California were between the ages of 18 and 34. That represents almost half of the total Hispanic voters in the Golden State.
And that is why organizations like Naleo – the one represented by Juliana Cabrales – are so active and promoting the vote, especially among the younger population.
“What we do [para que se registren y voten] It varies, but in general the way Latinos go out to vote can change, ”he said.
That is why the campaigns of this and other organizations that promote the vote focus on explaining the step by step of how to vote both in person and by sending the ballot by regular mail.
In 2016, 86% of the Latinos registered in the electoral roll went out to vote.
And while the number is quite encouraging, what is not is the low number of Latinos who are eligible to vote but do not.
Official data indicate that only 47.2% of people with the right to vote registered to participate in the last presidential race.
“The message is: make a plan now; If you are not registered, register ”, said Cabrales. “Update your data.”
This involves several steps, the official explained. In October, voters will be able to choose how they want to vote, whether in person or by mailing their ballot – an option that is not mandatory but is being promoted to avoid long lines at the polls.
Health authorities recommend that crowds be avoided so as not to spread COVID-19.
In this contest the vote of Generation Z will also be key, which are the young people who this year reached the age of majority and who will vote for the first time.
Convincing them not only to register to vote, but to go out and do it, is one of the challenges of organizations that promote voting among Latinos as well as political parties.
Cabrales said that less than 50% of voting age Latinos were never contacted by a political party or candidate.
“Young people are not going to give away the vote,” Cabrales said. “They want to know if the candidates talk about issues that matter to them.”
At the moment, several organizations are holding virtual forums with candidates in order to publicize their proposals.
However, it remains to be seen if this is enough or if it is necessary for parties to change their tactics to attract youth, Cabrales said.
What is a fact is that traditional methods are no longer as effective, said the interviewee, so the age of the population must be taken into account to adapt the dynamics.
California launches virtual assistance
Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced on Friday the launch of ‘Sam’, a search assistant for voters.
This artificial intelligence tool – which will appear as a teddy bear in a chat window at the bottom right of your screen to answer your questions instantly – is designed to help people navigate through the resources available to facilitate your process in these elections.
“Sam will provide information so that Californians will know how to register to vote and the options to vote with confidence,” said a statement from the state secretary’s office. “With the changes due to COVID-19, it is important that we give voters the information they need to participate. [de los comicios]. Visit: vote.ca.gov
