Thread: Hispanic Officials Urge Immigrant Voters to Get to Polls

Hispanic Officials Urge Immigrant Voters to Get to Polls

By Kirstin Downey
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 30, 2007; Page B05

Hispanic elected officials in the Washington area yesterday urged immigrant voters to vote next Tuesday to demonstrate their political power and counter what they called a troubling surge of
anti-immigrant sentiment in parts of the region.

Speaking in Spanish at a news conference in Arlington attended by several Spanish-language news organizations, the officials urged immigrant voters who are U.S. citizens not to worry about being intimidated at the polls. They unveiled a telephone hotline -- 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA -- that they said would be staffed by lawyers who could advise voters on how to protect their rights.

Several of the speakers specifically criticized some officials in Northern Virginia for engaging in what they called "the politics of hate." They said they are coming forward now because Tuesday is a significant election in which the entire Virginia General Assembly will be selected and key local government posts will be filled in Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun and Arlington counties and in Gaithersburg.

Maryland Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez (D-Montgomery County) said that Corey A. Stewart (R), chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and leader of the effort to approve a crackdown on illegal immigrants there, is taking unconstitutional actions.

"We have rights, and we have to defend them," Gutierrez said.

She said she is proud to hail from Maryland but fears that anti-immigrant sentiments will spread north from Northern Virginia. "Maryland is not Virginia," she said. "It doesn't have the anti-immigrant feelings."

Stewart and Gary H. Baise, candidate for chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, are planning to hold a news conference today to discuss illegal immigration.


J. Walter Tejada, vice chairman of the Arlington County board, who immigrated to the United States from El Salvador when he was 13, said citizens do not need to fear that they will get into trouble by voting.

He said voters should go to the polls, "calmly and tranquilly . . . with a smile." Voters do not need to bring identification with them; signing an affidavit of citizenship at the polls is sufficient proof of eligibility.

But Tejada warned against trying to vote illegally. "If you aren't a citizen, don't try to vote," he said.

The event was opened with a prayer by a Methodist minister, the Rev. David Rocha. Comments by speakers were greeted with shouts of "S¿ se puede" (Yes, we can), the rallying cry used by Cesar Chavez in organizing farm workers in California.

Carlos Solis, who is running for the Gaithersburg City Council, said the interests of all immigrants, not just Hispanics, are at stake.


"This is a fight for all and for everyone," he said. The speakers said that elections are often determined by just a handful of ballots, and that individual voters have the ability to swing an election.

Solis is running on a "One Gaithersburg" campaign platform with Ahmed Ali, who was born in Bangladesh, and Ryan Spiegel, a lawyer.

"Many anti-immigrants are afraid," Solis said. He said that if he and his colleagues won, they could "get control" of the city.

"We're all one pueblo," he said.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01986.html

He said voters should go to the polls, "calmly and tranquilly . . . with a smile." Voters do not need to bring identification with them; signing an affidavit of citizenship at the polls is sufficient proof of eligibility.

What an amazing statement... Voters do not need to show identification; what a concept.... these people need to hook up with New Yorks Gov Spitzer ... he wants voter fraud just like these people are advocating... that little statement about being illegal was a front to throw off a possible fraud investigation and voter fraud claims

I have the feeling many state will have contested primaries just because access to the polls lack the necessary safeguards to prevent voter fraud commited by illegal aliens. The elections in 08 will suffer the same fate. If legal U.S. citizens have no faith that illegal aliens have been prevented from voting its your right and responsibility protest the results loudly.

Actions to overturn elections face a heavy burden and are rarely successful. There must be some action taken prior to the election and some fierce prosecution and exposure of those who register fraudulently.


Election officials can see this coming and they need to take a pre-emptive strike. It is almost impossible to gather after-the-fact evidence because of the secrecy of the ballot.

Originally Posted by dragonfire

I have the feeling many state will have contested primaries just because access to the polls lack the necessary safeguards to prevent voter fraud commited by illegal aliens. The elections in 08 will suffer the same fate. If legal U.S. citizens have no faith that illegal aliens have been prevented from voting its your right and responsibility protest the results loudly.

If it’s a know fact that illegals will be voting, then every local, country, state, and federal election is by law null and void, and should be contested.

If we really want to make a statement, then the day after the elections we should start emailing, phoning, and faxing the government demanding that the law be followed.

They sure do and they tell them to vote stait Demacratica. They don't know what in the heck they are doing. Baaaaaahhhhhhhh!

Dixie

I think any state with motor voter registration are prime candidates for challenges especially those who openly issue DL’s to illegal aliens now.

At the rate things are going our right to challenge for a equal voice in the electoral process is slipping away. Example: New York and Governor Spitzer. How may states have already enacted such policies and no one cared enough to raise the flag. This debate should have never last this long. Law enforcement opposes it, republican and democrats oppose it, the state legislature opposes it, and 75% of the New York population opposes it.

Yet the head of homeland insecurity say he doesn’t like the idea of giving DL’s to illegal aliens but, has no plans to stop it. What’s wrong with this picture? I find it interesting that Spitzer feels so confident to stand next to him and openly say in essence he plans to aid, abet and encourage to stay.

Rises the red flags on voter fraud now, it maybe our last chance.

Everyone wants to paint themselves as "victims", don't they? I can't think of any reason other than puffing themselves up to feel important for politicians like Walter Tejada to continue trying to convince people that they are "victims" of something. If you are legally eligible to vote then shut up, bring your id and VOTE you idiots! I live in MD and always show my id when asked for my name and address. BIG DEAL!

Hi MadInChicago,
[Mod Edit - image display problem - reference removed]

Originally Posted by MadInChicago

If it’s a know fact that illegals will be voting, then every local, country, state, and federal election is by law null and void, and should be contested.

Yeah, MadInChicago, you can bet your ass illegals will be out voting; you recall they registered to vote during the mob demonstrations. Hillary and her running mate, Osama Obama, are gonna be laughing and high five celebrating!

Originally Posted by MadInChicago

If we really want to make a statement, then the day after the elections we should start emailing, phoning, and faxing the government demanding that the law be followed.

Need to make that before the elections.