Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP)  announced that it registered 9,884 new voters and surpassed its goal by 2,381. The initial goal was to register 7,500 Latino voters in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties in advance of the November election. SVREP conducts nonpartisan voter registration efforts with participation from local businesses, colleges and high schools, churches and communities. 

viclanda200810152049.jpg"This is an historic moment for the Latino electorate," said Antonio González, SVREP President. "We anticipate that Tejanos will reach 2.5 million registrations and cast nearly 2 million votes in November, making certain that our community's voices will make a difference in the critical upcoming elections.  Latinos are concerned about the economy, want to see an end to the war in Iraq, and believe that access to health care, improved public education and legalization of undocumented immigrants are top tier issues," stated González. 

"The Valley voter registration effort is key to Latinos determining their own destiny," added Lydia Camarillo, SVREP Vice President.  "The voter registration effort follows SVREP's $100,000 investment in the Valley to turnout 10,000 Latina voters.  We are proud of our contribution to be part of an empowerment effort in the Rio Grande Valley. SVREP registered 9,881 voters in the lower Rio Grande Valley with the effort of many leaders interested in the Valley's future." 

A breakdown of the SVREP registered, 9,884, voters: 825 new voters through the businesses, 1,474 students registered at high schools and 7,585 through the SVREP nonpartisan community based projects.

Community Based Projects

SVREP formed 12 steering committees in the community. These committees have registered 7,673 since July. The structure of the steering committees consists of committee leaders, paid coordinators and volunteers.  The volunteers, led by paid coordinators, target places of commerce, colleges and universities, high schools, technical and vocational institutions, sports events and events where large numbers of Latinos and other potential voters gather.viclanda200810151712.jpg

The Business Campaign

SVREP has partnered with Lone Star National Bank, First National Bank, IBC, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance (DHR), and Rio Grande Pharmacy Association to train 203 employees to conduct voter registration efforts at their place of business.  Lone Star National Bank registered 291 voters, First National Bank 490, DHR 20 and the rest did 24.

YouthVote Campaign

SVREP organized nine school districts (13 high schools) during the months of April and May.  During this phase, SVREP registered 1,474 high schools students. SVREP registered high school students this September and October up until the deadline of October 6th.

"Latinos are well aware that the next president and congress will shape national policies concerning immigration issues, like the ‘border wall'. These and other issues will help drive Latinos in the Texas Valley to the polls," concluded Camarillo.