Voto Latino

Voto Latino is a Get Out the Vote project that was founded in 2004. This project uses celebrity voices, technology, as well as the youth to promote voting and change in America. The Public Service Announcements released by Voto Latino target young Latino’s who are eligible to vote, but not in the typical dreary manner of the usual PSA. Partnering with Declareyourself.com, the latest batch of PSA’s released by Voto Latino are a take off of telenovelas, or Spanish soap operas. Within the first five episodes of “La Pasion de la Decision,” there is cheesy romance, an engagement, a break up, a love triangle, as well as a father who wakes from a five-year coma, all because Rodrigo is not registered to vote.

With the humor comes knowledge as well. In the second episode, Carmen, played by Rosario Dawson, is confused by the idea that Rodrigo, played by Wilmer Valderrama, is not registered to vote because on their first date he complained about the president. Carmen explains that Rodrigo had no right to complain because he did not vote in the past election. Mixed with the overdramatic tone of telenovelas, there are also important facts. For example, while fighting over the fact that Rodrigo is not registered to vote, Carmen explains that there are so many important issues that come along with voting. It is important to vote in both local and national elections as well as the ballot initiatives “because those are very important,” says Carmen through her tears.

By the third video in the series, there is a love triangle which all revolves around the fact that Rodrigo did not register to vote, since if he had simply registered to vote when he was eighteen, he would never have lost his fiancée to the gardener, who also happens to be her half-brother unbeknownst to her. However, once again all throughout this crazy, melodramatic love triangle there is an underlying factor, the need to register and vote in elections. Voting is not just a right but a responsibility is emphasized throughout each video by every character, numerous times. In fact by the time one finishes watching one of these clips, they may feel the need to get up and vote, use their voice and show that they can have an impact on the political system.

The videos also address some potential reasons for not voting. One specifically focused on is that you have to stand in line forever in order to vote. This has been a major problem in the past and is looking like it may be an even greater problem this year, yet this should be no reason not to vote. While there may be a little wait at the voting center, the video emphasizes that this only further shows how many people do exercise their right to vote. Another problem mentioned is the confusion as to where to register to vote. Lola emphasizes that she knows that you can register to vote at the Mayor’s office because while she was having an affair with the Mayor people were often coming in to register. Overall, Voto Latino, and the telenovela series as a whole, projects a positive message, through the use of humor, emphasizing the youth, and Latinos specifically, to register and go vote.

Voto Latino also partners with many different organizations in order to get Latino’s registered and voting in elections. One specific organization that Voto Latino is connected to is the Colorado Represent! program. This program works to involve and motivate the Latino youth of Colorado. According to the program there are almost 75,000 eligible Latino youth in Colorado that are not registered to vote. By registering the Latino youth, their voice will grow louder and they will have increased political power throughout the state.

This website leads readers to FAQ’s about voting, as well as way to register to vote, specific state information, early voting information and an electoral college map. Voto Latino specifically targets Latino youth, tapping directly into their interests and therefore promoting their interest in getting involved in the political system by registering and voting in both local and national elections.

For more information about Voto Latino or any of their programs please go to their website: http://votolatino.xykon.info/