I recently hosted a workshop in my area so people can learn about what it means to be a US citizen.
More than 150 people attended. A man is a legal resident for 50 years. Now he wants to become a citizen.
Why? He wants to vote.
Voting is one of the most important benefits of being a citizen, especially in California.
Voting is a way to make sure your voice is heard. This is a powerful way to let people know about the issues that are on your mind. You not only choose the politician, you tell him what kind of policy you want.
I am not asking you to vote for me. I ask you to vote for yourself and your family.
If you think about what you want for your family, you will realize that voting can improve health care, jobs, housing, the environment. You will tell them which policy you want.
In recent decades, California has voted for leaders who have developed policies to protect tenants from illegal evictions; ensure access to health care and higher education regardless of immigration status; and to protect workers of all kinds – whether in the fields, in restaurants, driving taxis or delivery trucks.
No wonder there are several other Latin American leaders in California besides me. We are now the largest ethnic group in the state.
In addition, we have a lot of power at the national level. There are about 45 million Hispanics in the United States, and many of them are already 18 years old, which is the voting age.
However, not everyone wants our voices to be heard. While California does things like send out ballots to everyone who is registered to vote, other states have passed laws that make it harder to vote.
They set up polling stations in hard-to-reach places where people without a car can’t vote, and create more complex identification rules.
We must vote for those who cannot. Including our children, our relatives who do not yet have citizenship, or Hispanics in other states where there are voting barriers.
For more information on how to vote, visit http://www.mifamiliavota.org or http://www.votolationo.org also California Minister’s page http://www.sos.ca.gov. All of these sites have information in Spanish.
Anthony Rendon
Source: La Opinion
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.