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PHOENIX, AZ - Arizona, the state that became ground zero in the national debate over state-sponsored anti-immigrant laws, is the next stop on the national odos a Votar! ("Let's Vote") Latino voter education campaign. The nonpartisan campaign, sponsored by national and local Latino advocacy organizations, has a goal of registering 650,000 new Latino voters and mobilizing 12 million Latino voters on Election Day, November 6.

The tour began two weeks ago in California and was in Nevada last week. Florida, Colorado and Texas also are on the tour schedule. Groups participating in the campaign are Mi Familia Vota (MFV), National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), Center for Community Change (CCC), Presente.org, Voto Latino, and the Hispanic Federation.

"Arizona has shown Latinos why we need to register and vote," said Eliseo Medina, SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer. "In Arizona, Latinos have suffered the consequences of bad policies written by politicians who do not represent our interests. The odos a Votar! Tour is about reminding Latino voters of what is at stake in this election: good jobs, tax fairness, affordable health care and a sensible immigration process."

"Despite a registration rate of over 60 percent in the state's Latino community, more than 250,000 eligible Latinos remain unregistered to vote in Arizona," said Francisco Heredia, Arizona State Director for MFV. "Mi Familia Vota, along with our partners, are working arduously to make civic participation a part of the Latino experience and we are confident that the !Todos a Votar! Tour will help increase voter turn out in November and build a culture of electoral engagement for years to come."

The faith community also is rallying around the Latino voter effort and Roman Catholic bishops issued a "Faithful Citizenship" letter to parishes. "Voting is part of being Catholic; it is a moral obligation to vote for policies that promote the inherent dignity and equality of all people, regardless of race, culture or nationality," said Fr. Ron Oakham of St. Cyril of Alexandria Parish in Tucson.

****odos A Votar! - ARIZONA - Saturday, August 11****
PHOENIX: News Conference with DREAM, community, faith and labor leaders; precinct walk follows
Time: 9:00 a.m. PDT
Location: St. Matthews Catholic Church
320 N. 20th Drive - Phoenix, AZ 85009

TUCSON: Media Availability
Time: 12:30 PDT
Location: El Pueblo Community Center
101 W. Irvington Rd. - Tucson, AZ 85714

For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Todos-a-Votar-Lets-Vote/337262393024188
Twitter hashtag: #voto12

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