VOTER REGISTRATION
When immigrants become citizens, they gain an important political voice that allows
them to participate in the decision-making processes that directly affect their lives and
those of family and friends. Many newly naturalized citizens may not know of their
right to vote or may underestimate its importance. Therefore, CLINIC encourages its
affiliates to educate newly naturalized citizens on the importance of registering to vote.
More than 4.5 million people became U.S. citizens during the 1990s. They represent a
quarter of all new Americans sworn in since 1907. A 1999 report from the U.S.
Census Bureau shows that overall, naturalized citizens are less likely to register and
vote than native-born citizens. Naturalizaed Latino voters, however, vote at almost
twice the rate of native-born Latinos. According to the newsmagazine Hispanic
Trends, in 1990, 80 percent of registered Latino voters nationwide were born in the
U.S. In 2000, 50 percent of Latino voters were born in the U.S. By 2010, 70 percent
will be foreign-born. If current trends continue, the political power of Latinos will grow
throughout this decade.
Resources
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has produced a voting
brochure in both English and Spanish. CLINIC encourages its affiliates to provide
copies of the brochure, as well as voter registration forms to clients who are in the
naturalization process, making it clear to them that completion of the naturalization
process is necessary before registering to vote. For copies of the brochure, contact
Vanessa Waldref at vwaldref@cliniclegal.org. Copies of the voting brochure can be
made available in office lobbies. Please note that it is important that voter registration be
conducted in an entirely non-partisan way.
Naturalization Ceremonies
Participating in naturalization ceremonies is another effective way of ensuring that
new citizens become voters. For example, one CLINIC affiliate, Catholic Charities
Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, regularly participates in naturalization
ceremonies and registers new citizens to vote. In one month alone, they registered
4,000 new voters through this process. This has given them newfound leverage in
their advocacy efforts, as they are able to communicate to policy makers and others
that many of their clients have become voting citizens. If your organization already
participates in naturalization ceremonies, you might want to obtain USCIS permission to
incorporate voter registration into the program. If your organization does not currently
participate in naturalization ceremonies but would like to, we suggest that you contact
your local USCIS office and offer to help with administrative duties, handing out forms
and ushering guests at the next naturalization ceremony. Once you have developed a
relationship of helping the USCIS with naturalization ceremonies, you can expand the
role you play at the ceremonies, and perhaps initiate voter registration as part of it.
Other Benefits
Becoming involved in voter registration of newly naturalized citizens not only gives
new citizens an opportunity to express their voice in the political process, but may
assist organizations in fundraising and resource development, as it expands the scope
and nature of services provided by an organization.
When immigrants become citizens, they gain an important political voice that allows
them to participate in the decision-making processes that directly affect their lives and
those of family and friends. Many newly naturalized citizens may not know of their
right to vote or may underestimate its importance. Therefore, CLINIC encourages its
affiliates to educate newly naturalized citizens on the importance of registering to vote.
More than 4.5 million people became U.S. citizens during the 1990s. They represent a
quarter of all new Americans sworn in since 1907. A 1999 report from the U.S.
Census Bureau shows that overall, naturalized citizens are less likely to register and
vote than native-born citizens. Naturalizaed Latino voters, however, vote at almost
twice the rate of native-born Latinos. According to the newsmagazine Hispanic
Trends, in 1990, 80 percent of registered Latino voters nationwide were born in the
U.S. In 2000, 50 percent of Latino voters were born in the U.S. By 2010, 70 percent
will be foreign-born. If current trends continue, the political power of Latinos will grow
throughout this decade.
Resources
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has produced a voting
brochure in both English and Spanish. CLINIC encourages its affiliates to provide
copies of the brochure, as well as voter registration forms to clients who are in the
naturalization process, making it clear to them that completion of the naturalization
process is necessary before registering to vote. For copies of the brochure, contact
Vanessa Waldref at vwaldref@cliniclegal.org. Copies of the voting brochure can be
made available in office lobbies. Please note that it is important that voter registration be
conducted in an entirely non-partisan way.
Naturalization Ceremonies
Participating in naturalization ceremonies is another effective way of ensuring that
new citizens become voters. For example, one CLINIC affiliate, Catholic Charities
Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, regularly participates in naturalization
ceremonies and registers new citizens to vote. In one month alone, they registered
4,000 new voters through this process. This has given them newfound leverage in
their advocacy efforts, as they are able to communicate to policy makers and others
that many of their clients have become voting citizens. If your organization already
participates in naturalization ceremonies, you might want to obtain USCIS permission to
incorporate voter registration into the program. If your organization does not currently
participate in naturalization ceremonies but would like to, we suggest that you contact
your local USCIS office and offer to help with administrative duties, handing out forms
and ushering guests at the next naturalization ceremony. Once you have developed a
relationship of helping the USCIS with naturalization ceremonies, you can expand the
role you play at the ceremonies, and perhaps initiate voter registration as part of it.
Other Benefits
Becoming involved in voter registration of newly naturalized citizens not only gives
new citizens an opportunity to express their voice in the political process, but may
assist organizations in fundraising and resource development, as it expands the scope
and nature of services provided by an organization.
415 Michigan Ave., NE
Suite 150
Washington, DC 20017
202.635.2556
202.635.2649 fax
media inquiries:
e-mail me
(202) 635-5810
Suite 150
Washington, DC 20017
202.635.2556
202.635.2649 fax
media inquiries:
e-mail me
(202) 635-5810
Advocacy Topics
Alternatives to Detention
Asylees and Refugees
Asylum-Seekers
Barriers to Family Reunification
Board of Immigration Appeals
Border Enforcement and Immigrant
Deaths
Citizenship
Consular Identification Documents
Detention
Department of Homeland Security
Driver's License Restrictions
Immigration Processing Delays
Indefinite Detention
Legalization
Local Law Enforcement
Mandatory Detention
National Security and Immigration
Unaccompanied Minors
Undocumented Immigrants:
State/Local Initiatives
Video Conferencing
Voter Registration
Alternatives to Detention
Asylees and Refugees
Asylum-Seekers
Barriers to Family Reunification
Board of Immigration Appeals
Border Enforcement and Immigrant
Deaths
Citizenship
Consular Identification Documents
Detention
Department of Homeland Security
Driver's License Restrictions
Immigration Processing Delays
Indefinite Detention
Legalization
Local Law Enforcement
Mandatory Detention
National Security and Immigration
Unaccompanied Minors
Undocumented Immigrants:
State/Local Initiatives
Video Conferencing
Voter Registration
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