Nonprofit organizations strive to increase voter turnout for November elections

SAN JUAN — Ten nonprofit organizations partnered up to increase voter turnout in the Rio Grande Valley for November elections.

Beginning in late October, Valley residents will head to the polls to cast votes on key issues while also choosing a county judge, county commissioners and the next governor for Texas, said Jose Chapa, a coordinator for the Equal Voice Network.

The network, a coalition of 10 Rio Grande Valley nonprofit organizations, unveiled their plan Thursday at the La Union Del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) headquarters in San Juan.

LUPE, founded by Cesar Chavez to help farming families, is one of the organizations taking part in the national Mi Familia Vota (or My Family Votes) campaign.

“We’re going to change the culture of the Valley because we need change and the only way that will happen is through our vote,” said Martha Sanchez, a LUPE coordinator.

Sanchez spoke to a group of organizers about the importance of getting people in isolated communities to vote. She also mentioned Arizona’s controversial new immigration law.

“Who wants another SB1070?” she asked the group in Spanish. “No one,” they all replied.

General election voter turnout for Hidalgo County is among one of the lowest in the state. In 2008, only 43.2 percent of registered voters in the county hit the polls compared to a statewide 59.3 percent. The 2008 percentage was lower than in 2004, when 43.5 percent of county voters cast ballots.

The coalition also plans to increase the amount of ballots cast in Cameron County. They will work with at least 10 precincts across the Valley in cities such as Alton, San Juan, Pharr and Mercedes to increase voter turnout by 10 percent.

To accomplish its goal, the network will host various events, including voter education seminars and two candidate forums in September.

“We will take information about the candidates to the community, so they can see their choices and then encourage every eligible person to vote,” Sanchez said.

The groups will also reach out to the community through phone calls, mail and community walks, another organizer said.

“We will make a difference,” Sanchez said to a group who chanted, “Yes we can, Si Se Puede.”

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Naxiely Lopez covers PSJA and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at 6983-4434.