Voter Registration Speech

SPEECH

Voter Registration

Remarks from Belen Robles, LULAC National President

It is often assumed that Hispanics are an easy target for aspiring politicians hoping to score political points by attacking minorities. While Hispanics are fully 11% of the United States population, conventional wisdom holds that their voter participation is low because many are not citizens. However, such thinking is dead wrong-Hispanics will be the pivotal vote in the November 1996 elections and any politician betting against this will pay for it at the polls.

First, while one quarter of the Hispanic population is not yet naturalized, applications for citizenship among the Hispanic population are at record levels. Nationally, there has been a 100% increase in applications for citizenship. As a result of the amnesty program begun in 1986, 3 million more Hispanics living in the United States are now eligible for citizenship. The statistics are clear: more Hispanics will be eligible to vote in November of 1996 than ever before.

Second, the Hispanic community, threatened by the slew of anti-Hispanic legislation being proposed in Congress and in state capitols across the country, has a heightened awareness of the importance of voting on their futures. We know that the only way stop the political attacks on our community is to make our presence felt at the ballot box.

Third, the Hispanic population is concentrated in the key battle ground states of California, Texas, Florida & New York. The Hispanic vote in these states is large enough to tip the scales in favor of candidates most supportive of the Hispanic community.

Finally, Hispanic organizations across the country have mobilized to educate and register more than 1 million new Hispanic voters. Voter registration projects are being conducted in Hispanic communities all over the United States as we speak. In fact, last week, at our national convention in Boston, Massachusetts, LULAC unveiled our latest effort to encourage Hispanics to register and vote-a series of public service announcements that will air on Univision throughout the Summer and Fall.

It is clear. The Hispanic vote will play a crucial role in the November, 1996 elections and will continue to be more important year after year. Please join us in our efforts to ensure that Hispanic Americans register to vote and fully participate in the democratic process.