Voter Engagement
VOTER REGISTRATION: Voter registration is an ongoing program with DHF thereby increasing voter turnout. In conjunction with California Calls, a non-partisan state-wide coalition, DHF registered over 1,000 new voters in Kern County in May & June, 2011. In addition, we helped 1,400 existing voters transition to permanent absentee ballots to increase voter participation.
California Calls is an independent network of 27 community based organizations in 10 Counties including San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Ventura, Kern, Tulare, Fresno, Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. The participating agencies in the Central Valley that anchor the work in Kern, Tulare, and Fresno counties call ourselves "The Central Valley Alliance for Economic Equity". Collectively, we were successful in speaking to over 26,000 voters and registering over 3,000 voters in the Valley.
Central Valley Alliance for Economic Opportunity Partners:
Center for Race Poverty and the Environment
Communities for a New California
Dolores Huerta Foundation
San Joaquin Valley Latino Environmental Advancement & Policy Project
Union de Exbraceros y Inmigrantes
United Domestic Workers
(see links to learn more about partner organizations)
VOTER EDUCATION / GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV): During election times, Vecinos Unidos, DHF staff and volunteers participate in non-partisan GOTV campaigns to increase voter turnout. In the 2010 election, the DHF played an instrumental roll in passing Proposition 25, which reduced the minimum vote from 2/3 to a simple majority to pass the state budget and requires state legislators to forfeit pay if the budget is not passed in a timely manner. In addition, we were effective in defeating Proposition 23 which would have repealed AB32, a piece of legislation that mandates cutting greenhouse gas emissions within the state.
In 2008, we urged voters to oppose Anti-gay initiative (Prop 8) which eliminated the right of same sex couples to marry in California.
Since 2005, DHF has worked with statewide coalitions to defeat Parental Notification Initiatives (Props 73, 85, and 4) which would have amended the California Constitution to impede women’s reproductive rights.
CANDIDATE FORUMS: For democracy to work, voters must be engaged and educated. As such, the Vecinos Unidos community organizations host non-partisan Candidate Forums (pictured below) so local residents have an opportunity to ask questions and get to know their prospective elected officials. All candidates are invited.
