Yes, we know it is not the first time we stress how important voting is, particularly in these 2022 midterm elections.
But we must take a few minutes to remember everything that has happened these last few months. As they say, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” And things have been evolving since the beginning of the year. Important legislation—and rather scary at that—has been passed, but it is never too late to act.
Thanks to people speaking out, including Latinx, Dems hold a good chance of steering the country the way we’d like to see it go.
Is that why our vote is so important? You bet it is!
To start:
After the the Supreme Court’s recent ruling revoking the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision recognizing the federal constitutional right to abortion, the debate has intensified. The effect of overruling Roe means the issue of abortion is now in the hands of the political process. Therefore, each state can decide women’s fates, whether it is implementing rights, or bans.
And guess what? With the Latinx vote, at least 12 gubernatorial seats could flip parties—including Massachusetts, Maryland, and Arizona. You get the point.
And we know, because it’s woven into the fabric of our lives, that abortion is one of the top five issues of concern for Latinx voters heading into the ballot box.
As President Biden said, the overturning of Roe v. Wade was just the beginning: “MAGA forces are determined to take this country backward. Backward to an America where there is no right to choose, no right to privacy, no right to contraception, no right to marry who you love.”
And we would add, no right to vote and decide your future and the future of our children, of our families!
WHAT IS AT STAKE IN THE MIDTERMS? MÁS VALE PREVENIR QUE LAMENTAR.
We don’t need to highlight the main issues for you as Latinx. But we invite you to visit Voto Latino’s website to get an overview of the issues that concern other Latinx people around the country.
Everyone thinks the president is the only one to vote for, but this year you can vote for those who can directly affect what happens in your state – your senator, governor, and your representatives.
GET TO KNOW the people running for office, from your local elections all the way to the top. Are their policies aligned with you,your family and your community?
To put it briefly, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives are on the ballot, as well as 35 Senate seats.
Key state-level offices are also on the ballot, including governors, secretaries of state, attorneys general, and legislators.. The winners of those contests will affect state policies on issues as varied as abortion, voting rights, gun control, “critical race theory,” and more.
Yes we Latinx hold more influence than we think. Let’s use that power!
OUR VOTE IS OUR VOICE
Remember that we, Latinx, ARE AMERICANS. We have the power to create a better future for all of us. We are not a minority! We are Americans. Our diversity and pride in our ancestry form part of the richness and resources of this country.
NI SOY DE AQUÍ, NI SOY DE ALLÁ
But the fact is many Latinx people do not feel they belong here.
We are Latinx and love our families, food, music, and values, even when these have all been made into clichés by repressive establishments.
Still, we are proud of these values, and at the same time, WE BELONG HERE. So we need to embrace that truth.
We recently invited Dr.Natalia Molina, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California, to join us in our Latinxyz Podcast. We had a fascinating discussion about the very personal need of belonging somewhere, the call to participate in our community, to engage, to have a voice and have an influence. That’s how we belong, by realizing we have a place, a role to play in our community.
We must let everyone know what we want, what we need, and what our dreams are.
We have a place in this country because we live here, our parents are here, and our ancestors may have been here a long time. Our ethnic groups belong here and now we must find a way to belong here as individuals. That is our most important job.
Among the things we can do to create a sense of belonging, let’s be aware of the urgency to vote.
Make sure you follow the steps that allow you to vote despite the GOP roadblocks! Let’s start with this first important step:
SABER ES PODER: HOW DO I MAKE SURE I CAN VOTE IN THE MIDTERMS?
According to the Brennan Center, since the beginning of 2021, lawmakers in at least 18 states have passed 34 laws placing new restrictions on voting. These restrictions threaten to disproportionately affect voters of color.
In light of those new laws, you need to check that you’re registered to vote and that your voter records are up to date.
Although the rules differ by state, many states have voter registration deadlines up to 30 days before Election Day, which means registering before October 9th.
In some states, you’ll need a photo ID to register to vote, and you may also need to present that ID when you cast your ballot. Most states allow you to vote in person during a designated early voting period ranging from three to 46 days.
BEWARE that, in some states, you may need to request a mail-in ballot to vote early, which can get complicated.
Whether or not you can vote by mail may be different this year than it was in 2020. After voters embraced mail-in voting during the pandemic, red states tightened the rules on the practice on the false premise that it was a source of widespread fraud in 2020. They toughened eligibility requirements, reduced the number of ballot drop boxes, shortened the timeframe for voters to request an absentee ballot, and stopped sending mail-in ballots automatically to infrequent voters, among other changes. Check with your state and local elections office for the most up-to-date requirements.
The fight for our future is upon us.
We have a voice—it is our vote. We have to remember that. And we must spread that knowledge far and wide!
Let’s get out and vote!
You might even consider running for office.
GET INVOLVED!
Knowledge brings power.
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All your comments are welcome. We’d love to hear from you!
Contact us at: hi@moirastudio.com, and our podcast at: clem@latinxyzpod.com