Developing Community Interest

Most LULAC members participate in ongoing voter registration. However, because of the importance of an election year, we are examining what can be done to increase the rate of Hispanic voter turnout. One of the most important factors for increasing the Latino vote is voter mobilization by Latino groups, such as LULAC.

Because of our organizational structure, LULAC Councils are particularly well suited for this effective means of getting out the vote. The LULAC Vote 2008 Committee is familiar with the neighborhood, the sporting clubs, and our churches. The community's familiarity with LULAC creates mutual trust. According to the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI), in a state-by-state analysis conducted in California, Texas, and Florida, voter mobilization played an important role in Texas and Florida. In California, issues tend to motivate the vote.

Well-designed strategies that target both registered voters and not will be important to the engagement of Latinos in the voting process. A focus on groups that are most unlikely to vote could mobilize a substantial and immediate response from native-born and newly naturalized citizens.

Latinos who are encouraged to vote as a result of personal contacts by influential Latinos are far more likely to vote than those not contacted. Therefore, old-fashioned campaigning and field canvassing is important, especially when linked to contact with recognized Latino leaders in the community.