As Women’s History Month wraps up, a women-led grassroots organization in Milwaukee is working to ensure Latinos in Wisconsin have a voice at the polls.
Eloisa Gomez, a member of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County, said amid current threats to both voting rights and the Latino community, the organization is focused on expanding Latino voting access through nonpartisan, bilingual outreach. She noted many have serious concerns about what could happen to Latinos at the ballot box, and they are seeing more people mobilize to protect voting rights.
“Knowing that we’re still at risk, just being brown,” Gomez observed. “We are going out there because we realize the challenges that our brothers and sisters who are undocumented are facing. So it’s beyond the vote.”
Gomez stressed voting plays a critical role in changing policies working against the Latino community. She emphasized the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate civic education as Latinos represent the largest and fastest-growing minority group in Wisconsin.
As a result of increased efforts, Gomez pointed out communities across the state are realizing the importance of proactively ensuring Latinos have access to election information, regardless of whether they are bound by law to provide it.
“We’re seeing communities that are not under Section 203, which is the Voting Rights Act, that are now saying, ‘Hey, we don’t need to be part of this legal federal requirement to provide this. We wanna do this because we want informed voters,'” Gomez underscored.
The state’s spring election is April 7, in which voters will select a new Wisconsin Supreme Court justice.
Gomez added there has never been a more important time for people to recognize how critical civic engagement is. She stresses the importance of promoting voting rights and reporting any injustices.
Publisher’s Notes: Milwaukee group mobilizes to boost Latino voting power was first published on Public News Service and was republished with permission.
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