Last Day for New Voter Registration

Today is the last day for new voters to register in Oregon. Those who haven't previously registered to vote in Oregon and are needing a registration card, can pick one up at county election offices, post offices, banks and DMVs. Or they can download a form on line at oregonvotes.org.

Registration Cards need to be completed and turned into one of the county elections offices before 5 o'clock tonight. To find out where your nearest elections office is, please visit this link or go to www.oregonvotes.org and click on "County Elections Offices".

If you have questions about your registration, where to drop it off or need assistance, please call the Oregon Secretary of State at 1-866-ORE-VOTE / or 1-866-673 8683. You can also visit www.oregonvotes.org for more details.

Read more »

Sights of the Caravan

Leaving Colonia Libertad

The Voter Registration Caravan's stop at Chemekta Community College

Read more »

Today’s Voter Registration Caravan

In commemoration of the Birthday, Life and Legacy of Cesar E. Chavez, today Voz Hispana Causa Chavista and their allies will participate in a car caravan to register voters and encourage Latinos to vote in the upcoming elections.

With more than 100,000 Latinos eligible to vote in Oregon, including thousands of eligible young Latinos turning 18 years-old, the main goal of Voz Hispana is to register young Latino Voters using innovative voter registration methods like the caravan. They hope to encourage them to vote their conscience on issues affecting their lives.

Schedule:

Volunteers will gather at Noon either at Colonia Amistad, 30 S Gun Club Road, Independence; or at Colonia Libertad, 2920 Saddle Club St. SE, Salem

Depart simultaneously at 1 p.m. from Colonia Amistad and Colonia Libertad. The caravan from Colonia Amistad will travel through downtown Salem

Both caravans will arrive simultaneously at 2:00 PM at Chemeketa Community College, 4000 Lancaster Drive NE, Salem; voter registration, music, food, speakers

The Caravan will Depart at 3:30 p.m. simultaneously from Chemeketa Community College and will arrive by 4 p.m. at Woodburn High School, 1785 N Front St., Woodburn for voter registration and celebration of César E. Chávez's 81st birthday

Other Organizations participating in today’s voter registration drive include PCUN, Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality, CAUSA, LUCHA, MECHA, First Congregational Church, St. Patrick Catholic Church Youth Group, Woodburn High School, Guadalajara Restaurant in Woodburn, LUS, Chemeketa Community College, Radio Movimiento, FHDC, and Mano a Mano Family Center.

Read more »

in the news: Youths encourage civic participation

in the news

Youths encourage civic participation

Voz Hispana focuses on registering Latino voters
THELMA GUERRERO-HUSTON
Statesman Journal
April 12, 2008

For several days this week, Melina Hernandez of Salem and several of her high school buddies refused to go home after school. But they didn't go to the mall, out to eat or to the movies. Instead, they focused on voter-hunting.

Not affiliated with any political party, the U.S.-born students, most of whom are 18 and registered to vote, have been making posters and putting together banners in preparation for a 150-vehicle voter-registration caravan that will travel from Independence to Salem to Woodburn today. ...continue reading

Read more »

Caravan to Increase Latino Voter Participation in Oregon

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2008

Contact:
Francisco López, Voz Hispana Coordinator (503) 269-5694
Erik Sorensen, CAUSA Communications (503) 488-0263

CARAVAN TO INCREASE LATINO VOTER PARTICIPATION IN OREGON

Salem, OR- In commemoration of the 81st Anniversary of the Birthday, Life and Legacy of Cesar E. Chavez, Voz Hispana Causa Chavista, a non-profit organization composed of parents, workers, students, small business owners and community organizers, will participate in a car caravan with allies this Saturday to register voters and encourage Latinos to vote in the upcoming elections. This weekend's caravan is just one of the many activities Voz Hispana has planned this year to encourage Latino voter turn-out.

"The mission of this Saturday's voter registration caravan is to empower Latinos by increasing our participation in the American democratic process", said Juan Argumedo, Organizer with Voz Hispana. "We are dedicated to preparing and delivering thousands of Latino voters for Oregon's 2008 primary and general elections."

Voz Hispana has been a pioneer and one of the leading organizations conducting voter registration and "Get out the Vote" campaigns for the Latino community in Marion county. Since its establishment in 1997, the organization has been committed to creating a healthy community where members have the opportunities and access to resources to achieve their highest potential.

"Our organization promotes the active involvement of Latinos in the civic and democratic system" said Ana Luisa Sanchez, President of Voz Hispana. "With our non-partisan voter registration campaigns, educational and candidate forums, and community engagement, Voz Hispana works to ensure that the community's voice is heard"

With more than 100,000 Latinos eligible to vote in Oregon, including thousands of eligible young Latinos turning 18 years-old, the main goal of Voz Hispana is to register young Latino Voters using innovative voter registration methods like the caravan. They hope to encourage them to vote their conscience on issues affecting their lives.

"Many issues are at stake this November, such as promoting real immigration reform, preserving the right of immigrants to obtain and keep a drivers license, accessing health care services, securing affordable housing and promoting quality education.", said Liliana Sotelo, Youth Organizer and a student at Woodburn High School. "But the most important reason to vote and register to vote is because we love our families and we want a brighter future for all of us."

The Caravan will depart simultaneously from Colonia Amistad in Independence and Colonia Libertad in Salem this Saturday (April 12th) at 1:00pm and make stops in Salem and Woodburn. While in Salem, the Caravan will stop at Chemeketa Community College to for a short rally to encourage Latinos to register to vote. More than 100 cars are expected to participate

Other Organizations participating in the effort include PCUN, Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality, CAUSA, LUCHA, MECHA, First Congregational Church, St. Patrick Catholic Church Youth Group, Woodburn High School, Guadalajara Restaurant in Woodburn, LUS, Chemeketa Community College, Radio Movimiento, FHDC, and Mano a Mano Family Center.

###

Read more »

Oregon Voter-Roll Complaint Doesn’t Stand Up To The Facts

Last Week, former State Rep. Jeff Kropf, Voting Restrictionist Ruth Bendl, Jim Ludwick, President of anti-immigrant group Oregonians for Immigration Reform and anti-tax activist Jason Williams held a press conference about their beliefs that Oregon's Voter rolls are saturated with voters using “false addresses, improbable or impossible birth dates and ones allowed to register without showing any proof of identification”. They cited examples such as thousands of people registered to vote at one address to birth dates like 11/11/1111 printed on voter registration cards.

According to The Oregonian, Secretary of State Bill Bradbury’s office responded the following day saying that “The examples provided Thursday did not appear to show anything out of compliance with election laws”. They added saying that, “The examples included many inactive voters, who are listed in the two-year-old statewide voter database but are not among the nearly 2 million Oregonians who are eligible to vote”.

In an Albany Democrat Herald article yesterday, State Elections Director John Lindback disputed all claims by the group as "unfounded". Addressing the issues the group discussed in their press conference, Lindback added that the group of four never approached his office about the so-called problems saying, "I wish we could get them to talk to us, but they shoot first and ask questions later”.

The press conference held by the group of four last Thursday was a failed attempt to play on anti-immigrant sentiment to bash Oregon's Voter Registration process and the successes of Vote-By-Mail. With Anti-immigrant Initiative #112 having a provision which would eliminate Oregon’s current process regarding registering voters, the group was clearly hoping to generate interest as a "fix" to all the now unfounded problems they cited in their press conference. Unfortunately for them, Mr. Lindback skewered them with the facts.

Read more »