Organizations across Delmarva are inspiring citizens to register to vote

National Voter's Registration Day

Today marks National Voter Registration Day, and since the day’s kick-off in 2012, it has inspired over 5 million Americans to register to vote, including a record-breaking 1.5 million in 2020 alone.

‘Votamos’– We Vote 

Georgetown, De. – In 2020, Latinos became the second-largest ethnic voting group in the country. Many come from an array of backgrounds, and they don’t fit into one particular stereotype. Now, they are challenging both political parties’ notions of race, religious beliefs, economic success, and the American dream.

‘Si, se puede!’, or ‘Yes, We Can!’ a phrase coined during the 2008 Presidential elections is still a way to get Latino voters motivated according to Mary Jo Vazquez community organizer for La Esperanza. She says some in the Hispanic community become confused around election time, because of party affiliations. “When they got the registration information, they were confused because where they’re coming from, they don’t have this part about parties, Democrat or Republican, and they were very confused because they didn’t want to be affiliated to neither, but they didn’t know they could do that.”

Vasquez says when new citizens get the opportunity to vote they’re honored and excited because they are quote, ‘fulfilling the American Dream’. “They’re very passionate about voting, and they feel privileged, it’s like, having a baby, okay for them, because in their country, democracy doesn’t exist.”

Jennifer Fuqua is the Executive Director of La Esperanza. She reminds us that like any diverse community, they’re not a monolith, and both parties will have to work to get their vote. “There’s a tremendous amount of diversity within that community and so it’s really important that each person has their own voice and their own vote… The Latino or Hispanic community is not one block. It is an extremely diverse group of communities, coming from many different countries with many different backgrounds and belief systems, and so it’ is really not possible to paint the community with one brush.”

Hispanics will make up nearly 15% of all eligible voters this fall, which comes on the heels of the last presidential election where they saw the lowest voter registration. La Esperanza says nearly 90% of Latinos will vote once they’re registered, they just need the chance.

The organization says they are working hard to not just dispel narratives within their community, but they are working closely to do the same within the Haitian Coalition of Delaware as well. There’ll be more information about that in October, but until then, if you or someone you know needs resources in the Latino community, please visit their website.

If you’re out, your vote counts

Wicomico County, Md. – The State Board of Elections is encouraging residents to register to vote ahead of the 2024 Presidential General Election, and the deadline to register to vote for the general election is October 15th.

Each year in the United States, millions of eligible voters miss registration deadlines, forget to update their registration after a name change, or moving, or simply because they aren’t sure how to register, causing them to disqualify. That’s exactly what the state is trying to get a head of.

Director of the Wicomico County Board of Elections Dionne Church says there’s still time to make your voting plan, adding that some people may not even know they’re eligible. “Prior to 2016 in Maryland, if you were on probation, or you were serving time for community service, you could not vote…. If you have changed your address, or if you are new to the state, or maybe you just have never registered at all to vote, this is the day that you can come out prior to the close of registration and make sure you have your information updated.”

Marylanders can also register during Early Voting October 24th through October 31st, or on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5. If you have any questions on eligibility, please contact the State Board or the local boards of elections as the trusted source of information or visit their website.