LEE COUNTY, Fla. — With the general election less than two months away, the Hispanic Vote of Southwest Florida is working to empower Latino voters.
A record 32-million Latinos across the country will be eligible to vote in the 2020 election, according to the Pew Research Center.
About 20 percent of eligible voters in Florida being Latinos.
"If we want to see changes, if we want to see people that we want to be elected, especially locally, we [have to] be involved," said Carmen Salomé.
Carmen Salomé is the chairwoman for the Hispanic Vote of Southwest Florida — a nonpartisan political action committee focused on informing and engaging the Latino community on voting and the local political process.
According to the 2010 Census, Hispanics make up about 22% of the population in Lee County and 28% in Collier County.
"That's a large population that has a civic responsibility to have a voice at the table," said Salomé.
Salome says a challenge is getting the Latino population to vote in local elections and not just ever four years in a presidential election.
"Unfortunately, what happens is if you don't get involved in the process of what's going on locally, it comes back and affects you as a homeowner, taxpayer, business owner," said Salomé.
The Hispanic Vote of Southwest Florida says it meets its mission in three ways, starting with monthly community leaders meetings.
Those meetings are intended to help the Latino community meet those local candidates vying for their vote.
"They can learn who these people are, what is their role in their office, how it impacts us as taxpayers," said Salomé.
"Not only is it an educational tool for our residents, but it's an opportunity for the elected official and that candidate to learn about this segment of people that is growing."
The committee also works with the elections office to offer voter education seminars and holds candidate endorsement interviews.
"It's done nonpartisan; we want the best person to represent us," said Salomé.
The committee will hold another community leaders meeting on September 17, 2020, but space is limited.
To learn more about The Hispanic Vote of Southwest Florida, click here.
