The Latino Action Network [LAN] today announced its participation in a statewide coalition to register Latino voters and foster political empowerment in a community that has been traditionally underrepresented. The LAN took part in a press conference at the State House in Trenton this afternoon kicking off the campaign.
¡DESPIERTA LATINO! INSRIBETE Y VOTA!
Wake Up Latino! Register and Vote!
Latino Action Network (LAN) joins Coalition of Organizations to mobilize Latino Vote
For Immediate Release: February 10, 2011
Contacts:
Jose Perez, Vice President – 919-389-0178
The Latino Action Network [LAN] today announced its participation in a statewide coalition to register Latino voters and foster political empowerment in a community that has been traditionally underrepresented. The LAN took part in a press conference at the State House in Trenton this afternoon kicking off the campaign.
“Today we are joining this coalition so that we can alert our community that it’s time for us to wake up and vote. LAN has joined this community collaborative so we can do our part, to ensure that Latino voter participation in New Jersey increases” said Jose Perez, LAN Vice President for Central New Jersey.
New Jersey's Latino population has grown significantly since 2000 – from 13.3 percent, to, according to the recently released US Census data, nearly 18 percent. However, over 39% of Latinos who are eligible to vote have not registered. LAN will work within the coalition to identify and target communities for the voter mobilization campaign. According to the 2010 US Census data, Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Toms River, Trenton, Clifton, Camden, Passaic, Freehold and Union City are New Jersey municipalities with significant Latino populations with Union City having the largest Latino population at 85%.
Additionally, we are calling for a more aggressive implementation by the State of New Jersey of The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) or Motor Voter law that became effective on January 1, 1995. “An effective implementation of the requirements of the Motor Voter Law by the state would go a long way towards increasing voter registration in our community” Perez concluded.
The Latino Action Network is a broad, statewide coalition of Latino organizations dedicated to political empowerment, the promotion of civil rights, and the elimination of disparities in the areas of education, health, and employment. It was founded in 2009.
