Naturalized Citizens to Play Decisive Role in Election

Over 135,000 New Voters Registered in Low-Income and Immigrant Communities. The Center for Community Change has worked with 53 grassroots organizations in 24 states to register over 135,000 first-time voters and mobilize over 250,000 voters in low-income, minority and immigrant communities as part of a non-partisan voter drive. According to the report released by Immigration Policy Center, newly naturalized citizens accounted for more than half of the net growth in persons registered to vote between 1996 and 2000. With efforts like the Center's targeting naturalized citizens, they are likely to play a critical role in the upcoming national, state, and local elections. Furthermore, according to a report released this summer in conjunction with the Center and the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM), turnout of Latino, Asian, and naturalized- citizen voters is estimated to reach 15 million in November- roughly a 40 percent increase over 2000. Both parties are targeting minority voters and new citizens and immigration policies will play a critical role in getting these constituencies out to vote. [more ] and[more ]

• The Powerlessness Of The Caribbean Voter [more ]
• Puerto Rico: Disenfranchisement is only an island away [more ]