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more: Voto Latino

November 1, 2016

Voto Latino Launches Innovated 'My Ride to Vote' Crowdfunding Campaign to Bring Free Lyft Rides to Underrepresented Voters

Campaign will mobilize citizens who lack access to transportation

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Today, Voto Latino has launched “My Ride to Vote”, a new crowdfunding campaign on Crowdpac to fund Lyft rides for voters who lack transportation access to the polls. The campaign, which has already raised more than $15,000 toward its $100,000 goal, will begin offering free rides to citizens in early voting states immediately.

“With this campaign, we aim to help underrepresented voters exercise their rights as citizens,” said Anna Soellner, co-founder of My Ride to Vote. “For people who are under immense family, work or financial pressure, having a convenient ride to the polls can mean the difference between voting and staying at home. Our mission is to assist those in greatest need to exercise their sacred, civic duty.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with My Ride to Vote which is applying modern technology to help citizens exercise their fundamental right to vote,” said Maria Teresa Kumar, President and CEO of Voto Latino. “We look forward to mobilizing communities across the country during early vote and on Election Day with this innovative new program. As little as $5 to $10 can help get several voters to the polls, and ensure that we get closer to our ultimate goal of perfect participation in our elections.”

October 4, 2016

Voto Latino Hits 100K Voter Registrations in Election Cycle

One week ahead of key deadlines, VL will continue its digital-first approach at registering a record number of Latinos

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 4, 2016 – Today, Voto Latino, the leading non-profit organization empowering American Latino millennials by engaging them through civic media, is announcing that its direct voter registration efforts during this election cycle have reached101,720 voter registrations, surpassing registration rates from previous cycles.

Voto Latino’s registration efforts have focused on key states with large or growing American Latino communities that will play a key role in the outcome of this year’s election and lay the foundation for future generations of Latino civic participation.

Our efforts yielded the best results in Texas, California, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, states that have recently received a lot of attention because of increased voter registration searches in Google.

President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar issued the following statement:

“For 12 years, we have built the infrastructure needed to turn cultural relevance into conversion, and our digital-first strategy of engaging young Latinos has led to more than 5,000 voter registrations per day in the last weeks.

“We’re proud that our previous work has led to a data-driven online program this cycle that is steadily closing the massive registration gap among Latinos. This effort is a part of a larger 360 degree approach that incorporates our nearly 500 partners and celebrity influencers. We thank those who helped fund early learnings.

“Despite the divestment in the Latino civic engagement space this election cycle, Voto Latino and our sister organizations will continue to work hard toward closing the voter registration gap because we know that when Latinos register, they vote. In 2012, 82 percent of registered Latinos voted, compared to 87 percent for the country as a whole.

“Given proven strategies, we will continue to make robust investments until the very last minute. Our program is nimble and able to maximize resources daily. In the coming weeks, we will continue to use all of our resources to make a final push at registering a record number of Latinos ahead of key deadlines.”
September 15, 2016

Mi Familia Vota, Voto Latino, iAmerica and more than 400 Partners Launch Voter Registration Initiative to Build Latino Political Power

Hispanic Heritage Month of Action aims to register record number of Latinos

WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 15, 2016  –Voto Latino, Mi Familia Vota, and iAmerica, along with more than 400 partners are working to shift behavior in American Latinos by registering to vote. Hispanic Heritage Month of Action (HHMA) aims to celebrate the pride in the Latino culture through building the community’s political power.

With more than 27.3 million Latinos eligible to vote in 2016, HHMA will serve as the cornerstone initiative in voter registration. The initiative will be led online by Voto Latino, Mi Familia Vota, and iAmerica. From September 15 – October 15, corporate partners, media companies, influencers, and national and local organizations will work to register eligible Latino voters before the November election.

“Hispanic Heritage Month of Action is a time to unite as a community to celebrate the pride we have as American Latinos, by recognizing the power of our vote,” said Maria Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino. “Today, along with hundreds of organizations, we will turn on the light that will help us build momentum as we head toward November 8.”

“During Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate our history and look towards the bright future we have when we exercise our right to vote, “said Ben Monterroso, executive director of Mi Familia Vota. “This month is also an opportunity to recognize the undeniably American contributions we have made to this country we call home through our hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance.”

“Today, we celebrate the economic, social, and civic contributions of Latinos who enrich our country with their culture, their entrepreneur spirit, their values and work ethic. One of those Latinas is Patricia Robles.  Earlier this year, Patricia accomplished the ‘American Dream’ and became a U.S. citizen and will vote for the first time this election.  Today, we celebrate Patricia and the millions of other Latinos who will exercise the power of their vote this November,” said Rocío Sáenz, president of iAmerica.
August 31, 2016

Ahead of Hispanic Heritage Month of Action, Voto Latino Launches Ten College Chapters

On the ground activations will push young Latinos to participate in critical election 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 31, 2016 – Voto Latino, the leading non-profit organization empowering American Latino millennials by engaging them through civic media, released the following statement by Vice President of Politics and Campaigns Maria Urbina on the launching of ten VL campus chapters across the country. The launch comes ahead of Hispanic Heritage Month of Action, a month-long voter activation initiative that will run from September 15 through October 15.

These campus leaders will engage Latino eligible voters both on-and-off campus, through targeted voter drives, sharing Voter Pal – Voto Latino’s voter registration app, music concert tabling and online engagement efforts.

“We are thrilled to launch our inaugural college campus efforts, led by Latino youth, ahead of such a critical election.” Urbina said. “During Hispanic Heritage Month of Action, Voto Latino’s chapters will work to reach young Latinos with on-the-ground activations and give them the resources and tools to be change agents in their communities. Voto Latino is proud to work alongside state partners to uplift the voices of Latino millennials in November and beyond.”

CAMPUS CHAPTERS 

  • Oklahoma State University

  • Wichita State

  • University of Arizona

  • University of Houston

  • University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley

  • Linfield College (McMinnville, OR)

  • University of Nevada – Las Vegas

  • University of Florida

  • Florida Gulf Coast University

  • University of Pennsylvania

June 30, 2016

Voto Latino Launches Brave, a Challenge to our Community

Brave, along with VL’s VoterPal, is transforming voter registration

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 30, 2016 – Voto Latino, the leading non-profit organization empowering American Latino millennials by engaging them through civic media, unveiled its 2016 civic engagement initiative Brave to more than 500 emerging leaders representing 18 states, during this year’s VL Power Summit in Las Vegas.

The campaign is built on sharing stories, content, and messages of those who have shown greatbravery in the face of adversity. It also features VoterPal, a mobile app that allows an individual to register friends and family in less than a minute through innovative ID-scanning technology.

“Our country is at a crossroads where we must decide if we will stand on the right side of history. The intersection of immigration, racial justice, wage equity and reproductive rights speak to millennials’ experience. Brave recognizes this unique moment and empowers this generation to define our future this election. It’s not about a candidate – it’s about us as Americans and our democracy,” said Voto Latino President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar during her remarks.

“Registering yourself is no longer enough. To show our power we must register each other – VoterPal helps expedite that process.”
March 16, 2016

Voto Latino Launches VoterPal

Announced at SXSW Interactive, New iOS App Will Help Modernize Our Country’s Civic Process

AUSTIN, TX. – March 16, 2016 – Voto Latino, the leading non-profit organization empowering American Latino millennials by engaging them through civic media, launched VoterPal, an iOS app for iPhone or iPad that is a step forward in modernizing our country’s registration process.

Its innovative technology prepopulates name, address, license number, and more from simply scanning a state driver’s license, dramatically cutting down the time it takes to fill out a voter registration form.

The app, available in the App Store now, was launched yesterday at a featured panel discussion at SXSW featuring Voto Latino’s President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar and VL’s Artist Coalition Co-Chair America Ferrera.

“VoterPal allows anyone to become an organizer and an activist and to register themselves and everyone around them to vote,” Ferrera said.

“At Voto Latino, we recognize that the number one reason Latinos will register to vote is if you ask them,” Kumar said. “We’re giving every single person, in the palm of their hand, the ability to go and register their friends and family.

“More than 40 percent of Latino millennials are mobile-only, and because of that, there is a need for technology around voter registration to catch up to the 21st century. With this app, we have the potential to create a web of civic organizers across the country.

“Today, you can find your partner, pay for parking, and order food right from your iPhone, but yet in many states across the country, the process to register to vote remains long and difficult. This is where VoterPal comes in,” Kumar concluded.
March 15, 2016

MiTú and Voto Latino Partner to Ignite the Latino Millennial Vote

Partnership Kicks off at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2016 with Social Campaigns throughout Election Year

AUSTIN, TX. – mitú, the leading digital media brand emerging as the voice of young Latinos, today announced a partnership with Voto Latino, the leading nonpartisan organization empowering American Latino millennials by engaging them through civic media. Latinos are poised to have a significant impact in this year’s presidential race, and both organizations aim to engage and activate Latino Millennials, who account for nearly half of the Latino electorate.

The collaboration kicks off during the South by Southwest (SXSW) 2016 Conference with a social campaign that engages participants to state why they are voting in this year’s election and then pledge to do something outrageous to get their friends to register to vote. This social “challenge” activates existing voters to engage non-voters and non-registered millennials to drive awareness and participation.

“Millennials represent almost half of eligible Latino voters, and as the largest digital media brand for Latino youth, it’s our responsibility to do whatever it takes to mobilize them in this historic election. Latinos will play a pivotal role in electing the next president, and we must exercise our constitutional right to vote and let our voices be heard,” says Beatriz Acevedo, president and co-founder, mitú. “This is why we are excited to partner with Voto Latino, to combine our efforts to inspire millennial Latinos to speak up on issues that matter to them with the power of their vote.”

“We’re thrilled to announce this partnership with mitú that will allow us to continue meeting the growing demographic of Latino millennials exactly where they are: online,” said Maria Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino. “In 2016, the Latino electorate will be more than 27 million strong and Voto Latino and mitú look forward to cultivating the talent and leadership that exists within our community and to empower young Latinos to be agents of change capable of shaping the country that reflects their values.”

The organizations will leverage mitú’s highly engaged millennial audience and powerful community of social media superstars, and Voto Latino’s longstanding digital savvy and robust networks, which includes its Artist Coalition of celebrities, to produce co-branded content and ignite participation in social media campaigns promoting voter registration and activation. Voto Latino, which was co-founded by Rosario Dawson, has in the past worked with America Ferrera, Wilmer Valderrama, Gina Rodriguez, Pitbull, among others, will also leverage relevant mitú-produced content for Voto Latino channels, and by that of its affiliates. Together, Voto Latino and mitú will support each other in interviews, forums, town hall meetings, and other events and activities related to the 2016 elections.

The partnership with Voto Latino is part of mitú’s election initiative #WeAreAMERICA which harnesses video content and social activations to inspire, empower, and drive young U.S. Latinos to vote.

Those attending SXSW will be able to learn more about the campaign at the following events:

Tuesday, March 15 @ 12:30-1:40p.m.
Swipe Left or Right: The Latino Millennial Vote
Austin Convention Center, Ballroom EFG, 531 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

Tuesday, March 15 @ 8p.m. Remarks at 8:30p.m.
Voto Latino Reception
La Condesa Restaurant, 400 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701