MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Today, during a press conference held at its Workers’ Center in Minneapolis, COPAL proudly launched its Minnesota Latino Vote campaign for 2024. The campaign aims to transform civic engagement for Latine communities across Minnesota. This ambitious initiative is designed to mobilize and activate Minnesota’s Latine voters by equipping them with essential knowledge and resources, ensuring their voices play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the state.
launch Minnesota Latino Vote campaign for 2024.
“We seek to ensure that we energize our community to participate in this very important election,” said COPAL’s Executive Director, Francisco Segovia “We say that every election is important, but this one is so crucial because it is about the future of us as a community. It is about the vision that allows us to live a dignified life.”
“Elections are one tool we use as a vehicle for social change here in Minnesota,” said COPAL’s Organizing Director, Ryan Perez. “There are over 100,000 Latinos in Minnesota who are eligible to vote this election. In a state like Minnesota where elections are often won by razor-thin margins, our community can – and does – make a difference.”
There are several critical issues at the forefront for the Latine community in 2024. This includes education, environmental justice, accessible healthcare, immigration policy, affordable housing, and workers’ rights protections. The Minnesota Latino Vote campaign will address these priorities head-on to drive impactful changes during this election cycle. It is committed to creating necessary changes that will improve the well-being of Latines.
“Voters care about the economic situation they are in. They care about their healthcare,” Perez said. “We are dealing with this issue of the five-year ban. Someone could be documented, and here through the right processes and they have status, but there are five years before they can receive benefits. We hear these stories, and we hear people motivated to vote. The next step is connecting the dots; what policy does it look like to solve that?”
Providing voter education resources is key to the success of the Minnesota Latino Vote campaign. With the help of dedicated volunteers, COPAL’s outreach strategy includes bilingual phone banking, door-to-door canvassing and targeted text messaging. In the first week and a half, COPAL has already made over 12,000 phone calls and knocked on over 500 doors. The organization is on track to exceed its goal of completing over 100,000 phone calls by election day.
“We have no reason to doubt that this will be the largest historic Latino Vote effort in Minnesota state history,” said Perez.
COPAL uses predictive modeling and its own database to reach Latino voters and voters in other BIPOC communities. In the last week, canvassers have connected with voters in Burnsville and Savage, where there are high Latino populations.
“One aspect I really enjoy is the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of people in Minnesota,” said Lilly Lopez, a canvasser for COPAL. “I chose to get involved because I deeply connect with COPAL’s mission to advance a dignified life for Latines in Minnesota. I have only been canvassing for a week and I have already spoken to 100 Latino voters across the state.”
COPAL is excited to lead this movement and foster a more equitable and inclusive Minnesota. The campaign will continue outreach efforts through the 2024 Presidential election on November 5th.
For more information about Minnesota Latino Vote and how to get involved, please visit: mnlatinovote.org.
to launch Minnesota Latino Vote campaign for 2024.
Find more photos of the press conference here.
MN Latino Vote is COPAL’s initiative to increase the electoral power of Latines in Minnesota. For more information, please visit mnlatinovote.org.