No Puedes Votar? 5 Ways to Get Involved!

02Nov
by Leticia Chavez-Garcia

You really want to have a voice in the election process, but gosh darn it, you are not eligible to vote.  Maybe you aren’t a citizen, or maybe you are a citizen but you are on parole. There are many circumstances that would bar someone from being able to vote.  But you can still be involved.

What can you do? There are so many ways to play a huge role in elections and support candidates that you’d like to have represent you.  Here are five ways you can help elect someone even if you don’t have a ballot.

  1. Vote by kid proxy! If you have children living in your home and they are eligible to vote or are registered to vote, do NOT let them waste that vote!  Make sure you tell your kids that they need to vote or risk a chanclaso!  Tell them that they have the power to give you a voice and don’t feed them or make their cama until the voting is done.
  2. Volunteer on a campaign. You need not be a registered voter to help a candidate on theIr campaign. In fact, candidates are always looking for folks to help make phone calls and deliver informational materials to people in the district.  No seas huevona!  Go get a clip board and start helping!
  3. Encourage people you know to help out on a campaign.  Money is great, but having people to man the phones and drop off literature is critical.  You can always cook for the helpers and invite them over after their shift! Remember, pupusa powered campaigns are the best and most likely to win the election!  
  4. Call all of your Comadres and have them talk their comadres to host meet and greets for the candidata! Even if you are not able to vote, quizas tu vecino can!  Put some cafe de olla and pan dulce out, and invite your neighbors to meet the candidate!  
  5. Find out what is necessary to become a cuidadano if possible.  Knowledge is power. Find out what the steps are and then find out if it’s something you can do.  Who knows? Maybe that Senador you just helped get elected can help you find resources!  

Make the drastic decision to move to San Francisco where they just passed a law that allows non citizens to vote in local elections.  Or better, become an activist for all cities to adopt the same policies!

But do be careful, because a foreign national, you will not be able to make contributions of money or in-kind to candidates, unless you a are the holder of a valid green card.  Check out the rules here to make sure you are not violating any campaign laws.  

We have to make sure we get ourselves back on track.  This will take the work and effort of everyone! ALOD!  All Latinx On Deck! Help where you can 2020 is just around the corner, and we need to be ready for it!  Ponte tus huaraches y vámonos!

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Leticia Chavez-Garcia

Leticia Chavez-Garcia is a Mother, Grandmother, former Middle School Teacher, former Member of a School Board of Education and an Education Advocate for hundreds of parents and students in the Inland Empire. Having become a mother at 15, Leticia knows what it’s like to be a single mother trying to navigate the education system. Leticia received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and Public Administration from California Baptist University and a Masters’ Degree in Education Technology from Cal State Fullerton in her 30’s. Leticia has used her knowledge and experience to help hundreds of families as an Education Advocate in the Inland Empire and currently works as an Education Specialist.

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