National group targets local Hispanics to vote

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Organizers’ with "Mi Familia Vota” held a voter information event at Colonial High School Monday morning. Group organizers told Channel 9’s Nancy Alvarez their goal is to register 33,000 new voters by October.

“They have to vote, they have to be heard, we can make a difference and this is how we do it,” said an organizer with Mi Familia Vota.

That's the message the teachers are giving students being trained to hold voter registration drives.

The goal isn't just to bring fellow students to the polls, but their parents, grandparents and neighbors.

There’s a special emphasis on Central Florida because of the influx of thousands of Puerto Ricans due to the economic crisis on the island.

“These are Latino voters who are U.S. citizens and very active voters on the island so part of our role is to reach out to the new arrivals here,” Esteban Garces, with Mi Familia Vota, said.

Eyewitness News political analyst Rick Foglesong said this non-partisan effort could benefit one side over the other.

“By mobilizing Hispanics who are likely to vote Democrat, this really has a partisan impact,” said Foglesong.

But whatever happens their impact has already reached some students. Bryan Garland, 16, isn't even old enough to vote, but said he’s volunteering and learning.

“Your vote matters. You may think, ‘Oh, it's only one vote, it's not going to make a difference. It will,’” said Garland.

Cox Media Group