Democrats and Republicans in Washoe County have employed different methods of engaging with Latino voters this election season, and we'll soon see how effective they've been. Our contributor Krysta Scripter with Noticiero Movil has more.
In Washoe County, Latinos make up nearly a quarter of the population.
Miguel Ayala, communications director for Hillary for Nevada, has helped organize multiple statewide outreach initiatives, including the Abuelas program.
“We have organized the Abuelas program, a grandmother’s program that is bringing senior Latinos together who are organizing people in their community, getting people involved,” Ayala explains.
For the Washoe County GOP, recent leadership changes delayed the opening of their local office to just four months ago.
Ray Rocha, President of the local Republican Mens’ Club, works closely with the Latin Chamber of Commerce to engage with business owners.
“The idea for them is to get Hispanic businesses with American business," Rocha says, "and hopefully give some very positive things to get them to lean more or thinking about voting Republican.”
Iris West is a volunteer with the Democratic party and director’s assistant at UNR’s Latino Research Center. She says Latinos want to vote, but a lack of information can keep them away from the polls, especially Millennials.
“They have to understand they cannot stay from that conversation. They can see their ballot as an investment that they are doing right now.”
More than 27 million Latinos across the country will be able to vote tomorrow
Disclosure note: Iris West is a community member who serves on KUNR's Leadership Board.