Thread: Latino Voter registration aims to rekindle spirit, momentum

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4424928
denver & the west
Latinos' efforts march on
Voter registration aims to rekindle spirit, momentum of nationwide rallies
By Katharine Bernuth
Denver Post Staff Writer

Dusti Gurule with Latina Initiative encourages people to register to vote. Since Denver has done away with the traditional precinct system in favor of general voting centers, groups aiming to register new voters are promoting absentee ballots. (Post special / Steve Peterson)


Last spring when tens of thousands of people marched in support of immigrant rights, one of the rallying cries was: "Today we march, tomorrow we vote."

Tomorrow is almost here.

In an effort to turn Colorado's 574,000 Latino residents into a powerful voting bloc, and to rekindle the spirit and momentum of the marches, the Somos America coalition held a voter mobilization rally Saturday in west Denver.

"It's to get people to think about immigration, how the recent laws have affected us, and what we can do about it," said organizer Ricardo Martinez.

Voters will decide 14 statewide proposals on this year's ballot, so voter education, as well as registration, is part of the focus.

Martinez says after the registration deadline of Oct. 10, Somos America will distribute information about the ballot measures. He says voters will be motivated by the chance to vote for an increase in the state minimum wage.

Since Denver has done away with the traditional precinct system in favor of general voting centers, groups aiming to register new voters are promoting absentee ballots.

When registered voters don't vote, it is often because something unforeseen comes up on Election Day or they don't know where to go, said Simon Rosenberg, president of New Democratic Network. Voting by mail solves these problems and allows people more time to consider the issues, he added.

Rosenberg participated in a voter-mobilization rally Saturday in Wheat Ridge held by America Votes.

"Not a single person I spoke to today knew the voting system had changed,"

HEY!! You need to ENCOURAGE the Illegales to go home and join or start a revolution in their homeland because if they vote in our elections and interfere with our legal democratic process, they will have violated yet another law and done so by committing fraud and folks...that's felony.

groups aiming to register new voters are promoting absentee ballots.

It is hard to check ID when the ballot is mailed.

Illegal invaders have NO regard for any of our laws. These parasites need to be reminded that they are unwelcome trespassers who will never win over the hearts and minds of true American's.

We should be checking ID's on all who come to the polls to vote, regardless of the fact that they have voted before. I find it difficult to believe that you can be an american citizen and not speak a word of english, but I did see that at the polls people coming in with interpreters.