Univision draws 100,000 to voter registration drives in move to increase its political clout

[riversedge]

Univision draws 100,000 to voter registration drives in move to increase its political clout

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/05/20/univision-draws-100000-to-voter-registration-drives-in-move-to-increase-its-political-clout/?tid=ss_tw
By Catherine Ho May 20 at 6:15 AM






Univision, the nation’s largest Spanish-language broadcaster, has drawn more than 100,000 people to hundreds of voter registration and citizenship drives aimed at urging Latinos to vote.

The effort is part of the media company’s push to expand its political reach in a year where the Latino vote could sway the outcome of the presidential race.

Univision announced in February it would seek to register three million new Latino voters — the estimated number of young Latinos who have turned 18 and become eligible to vote since 2012 — ahead of the November election.

[Let’s be clear: Univision’s 3 million Latino voter registration drive helps Democrats]

The network has since rolled out an aggressive public service and advertising campaign, in English and Spanish, on its 126 television and radio stations across the United States and social media platforms. And it is partnering with several Latino civil rights, political and advocacy groups to host town halls, staff community call centers, and launch a new texting tool that about 130,000 people from all 50 states have subscribed to.

So far, the push has drawn nearly 106,000 people to 145 citizenship workshops, forums, voter registration drives and other community events across the United States.

.............................

“We want to inform and empower our audience, not just entertain them,” said Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, Univision’s executive vice president of government relations and public policy. “As a media company, we have the ability to educate and tell people what’s happening on air and off air … We have the voice.”

If successful, the media company could significantly alter the electorate in a way that would likely benefit presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Trump has insulted many Latinos by vowing to build a wall between the United States and Mexico and deport the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants living in this country.

In 2012, the vast majority of Latinos, 71 percent, supported Barack Obama. A record 27.3 million Latinos will be eligible to vote in the 2016 presidential election, according to Pew Research....................................

[lunamagica]

1. K&R. Great news! Thanks, Riversedge!

[Thinkingabout]

2. Good deal, good to hear the younger group is targeted also, it is about their future,

Hope they push GOTV also.

[liberal N proud]

3. Great - we need more voters

[Her Sister]

4. Great news! So smart and brilliant!

[BobbyDrake]

5. Certainly a much better and more effective plan than "Be angry and yell a lot."

This is a perfect example of passion channeled into positive action, not squandered on emotional tantrums.

It's also how we genuinely expand the party. I wish much luck and success on Univision's efforts!

[wildeyed]

6. I love this!

[skylucy]

7. This is one of the reasons why I think Hillary will win California. We have a pretty large Hispanic

population and I am thinking they will turn out and vote for Hillary in June.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

8. K&R nt