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Immigrants learn ins, outs of voting
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT ^ | Tuesday | CECILIA M. VEGA

Posted on 10/07/2003 10:29:59 AM PDT by TaxPayer2000

Workshop helps new citizens learn rights, feel comfortable when casting what may be their first ballot

To Jaime Lopez, who plans to cast his first vote as a U.S. citizen on Tuesday, the recall election is just "a little confusing."

The date of the election was uncertain for a time, the list of candidates is long and, adding to it all, Lopez said in Spanish, "my English is not very good."

So the 42-year-old native of Mexico spent Friday evening at a workshop intended to inform immigrants about voting.

After thumbing through a voter guide written in Spanish, seeing an actual voting booth and hearing explanations on ballot measures and the consequences of not voting, Lopez said he had new confidence about heading to the polls.

"I'm going to vote for Bustamante," said Lopez, a Santa Rosa resident who became a citizen about 11/2 years ago. "He will give Latinos a lot of help."

About 40 people, mostly Spanish-speaking Mexican immigrants, gathered in the Roseland Elementary School cafeteria to learn about voting.

They heard, in their native language, that the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot for Tuesday's election has passed. They saw sample ballots and were told they can ask for new ballots if they make a mistake at the polls.

For those who vote for the first time Tuesday and among those who have done it before, the election is seen as a monumental step in an immigrant's rite of passage.

"If we don't vote, nothing's going to change. If we don't vote, we're going to stay in the same position we're in now," said Maria Mendoza of SALVA, a Santa Rosa committee working to strengthen Latino participation in the community.

Although about a third of California residents are Latino, they make up only 12 percent of the electorate, according to the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute, a research group associated with the University of Southern California.

According to a Field Poll released Friday, the proportion of Latino voters who favor the recall is the same as the entire electorate: 57 percent.

But Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat, is favored as a replacement candidate by 40 percent of Latinos as compared with 26 percent of the entire electorate.

Republican actor Arnold Schwarzenegger polled 34 percent of Latinos, and 36 percent for all voters.

Marcia Koenig, a naturalization supervisor for Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa, which helped organize Friday's workshop, said Bustamante's presence on the ballot may attract more Latino voters to the polls.

"I think that people are more inclined to vote in this election, especially because there's Latino candidate who has a good chance of winning," she said.

Jose Barva, who lives in Santa Rosa and described himself as a farmworker for Kendall-Jackson Winery, was still unsure how he would vote.

"I think I will vote no on the recall, but that's what I need to see tonight," said Barva, who became a citizen in 1997 but has not voted for three years.

"I like what Gray Davis did with the licenses, though, because that helped. It's good for Mexicans," Barva said, referring to the governor's recent signature on a bill that will allow undocumented immigrants to apply for driver's licenses.

When a workshop moderator asked those present to stand if they have lived in the United States for more than 10 years, nearly all did.

But in a telling sign of the prevailing confusion surrounding voting in general and the recall election, none stood when asked how many felt prepared to cast a vote on Tuesday.

"There's a feeling of not knowing how to do it because they come from a different country," Koenig said. "They don't know that they can actually take someone with them to the polls to help or that that they can take their sample ballots with them."

Organizers said they distributed more than 1,000 fliers and broadcast announcements on radio stations and in churches to let the Spanish-speaking public know about the workshop.

"It's not an easy thing to come to this," Manuel Rivera, legal services coordinator for Catholic Charities, told the participants. "It means we have a tremendous amount of work in front of us."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: immigrantlist
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1 posted on 10/07/2003 10:29:59 AM PDT by TaxPayer2000
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To: TaxPayer2000
Immigrants learn INS?
2 posted on 10/07/2003 10:31:47 AM PDT by VU4G10 (Have You Forgotten?)
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To: All

"Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our
wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions,
they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
- John Adams -


Make your statement.




3 posted on 10/07/2003 10:33:27 AM PDT by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: VU4G10
Ok, I became a citizen in 2002 and voted Simon in November. I went to the poll and voted? What training did I need? I don't get it...............
4 posted on 10/07/2003 10:39:34 AM PDT by Mon
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To: Mon
Sad to say, you are not the demographic they like... useful idiots like other useful idiots or potential useful idiots
5 posted on 10/07/2003 10:44:17 AM PDT by cyborg (Kyk nou, die ding wat jy soek issie hierie sienj)
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To: cyborg
I know, I know..... hmmm, I see nothing printed in my native language?
6 posted on 10/07/2003 10:47:41 AM PDT by Mon
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To: Mon
haha... I talked my South African friend last night INSISTING he get up early and vote. To be sure, no ballots were printed in afrikaans.
7 posted on 10/07/2003 10:49:33 AM PDT by cyborg (Kyk nou, die ding wat jy soek issie hierie sienj)
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To: gubamyster
ping
8 posted on 10/07/2003 10:50:28 AM PDT by Libertarianize the GOP (Ideas have consequences)
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To: cyborg
ROFL!!!!!!!!! But how true, huh!
9 posted on 10/07/2003 10:51:08 AM PDT by Mon
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To: Vets_Husband_and_Wife
Ping!
10 posted on 10/07/2003 10:51:53 AM PDT by Mon
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To: *immigrant_list; A Navy Vet; Lion Den Dan; Free the USA; Libertarianize the GOP; madfly; B4Ranch; ..
ping
11 posted on 10/07/2003 10:53:58 AM PDT by gubamyster
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To: TaxPayer2000
Lopez said in Spanish, "my English is not very good."

But she's an informed voter, right?

12 posted on 10/07/2003 10:58:34 AM PDT by kevao (Fuques France!)
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To: Mon
Well, they are being 'reminded' it is part of the deal for expediating their entrance to USA! Ex- this is how it goes, you vote DEMO!
13 posted on 10/07/2003 11:39:39 AM PDT by JustPiper (18 out of 19 HiJacker's had State issued Driver's License's !!!)
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To: JustPiper
I remember, after I was sworn in at the Crest Theater in Sacramento they handed out democratic party stuff to all of us "we are the party for the immigrants." I kindly declinded and kept moving.....
14 posted on 10/07/2003 11:41:17 AM PDT by Mon
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To: Mon
HOPEFULLY things will change dramatically and soon.

As you know, I live in a farming community. I have deep respect and even affection for families of the farm workers. But we cannot have ILLEGAL immigrants in the United States. They must be here LEGALLY. With workers permits.

Only then, can things be RIGHT for THEM and for US. We can make sure they are taken care of properly, better migrant workers housing, living conditions, pay, medical care. But with SECURITY for the US intact!! Right now it is just plain crazy!!

After reading this, look at all the possible VOTING violiations!!!

This will be corrected I'M SURE!! Or.. I should say.. I PRAY!!! With the SLEAZE DEM tactics working.. who knows. I won't hold my breath.. until this one is OVER!!
15 posted on 10/07/2003 12:14:59 PM PDT by Vets_Husband_and_Wife (CNN: Where " WE report what WE decide!!")
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To: TaxPayer2000
Your One Stop Resource For All The California Recall News!

Want on our daily or major news ping lists? Freepmail DoctorZin

16 posted on 10/07/2003 1:04:21 PM PDT by DoctorZIn
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To: cyborg
"There's a feeling of not knowing how to do it because they come from a different country," Koenig said.

The voting booth is the easy part. Understanding US politics takes a lifetime. There is no way on earth they are informed enough if they have trouble with the voting booth, itself.
17 posted on 10/07/2003 2:02:27 PM PDT by Arthur Wildfire! March (California our next Kosovo?)
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To: Vets_Husband_and_Wife
After reading this, look at all the possible VOTING violiations!!!

Not only is it a security risk, we also have the problem of the Flood of Ignorance. They do not understand US politics. Most illegals are cynical about politics in general. We don't need more ignorance and cynicism in the voting booths, we need less.
18 posted on 10/07/2003 2:05:29 PM PDT by Arthur Wildfire! March (California our next Kosovo?)
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To: JustPiper
Ex- this is how it goes, you vote DEMO!

O'Reilly had Tom Tancredo and J.D. Haywood on last night talking about the Arizona's illegal-immigrant situation. The rat governor there wants illegals to have to right to drive. O'Reilly came right out and said it was because it would make it easier for them to vote and they would vote democratic. The Republican Party needs to wake up to this or they'll never win another big election.

19 posted on 10/07/2003 3:19:58 PM PDT by Missouri
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To: Arthur Wildfire! March
AGREED!
20 posted on 10/07/2003 4:27:07 PM PDT by Vets_Husband_and_Wife (Our troops get it! Thank God they do!!)
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