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Hispanic Heritage Month

Everyone should have the right to vote no matter who they are, where they are from, or what their political beliefs are.

This Hispanic Heritage Month of Action, California Planned Parenthood Education Fund, Inc. (CPPEF) will be on the ground registering members of the Latinx community to vote through the My Voice, My Vote / Mi Voz, Mi Voto campaign, a nonpartisan voter registration effort encouraging people to commit to vote to make sure their voices are heard on election day regardless of their background, beliefs, or political ideology.

Planned Parenthood health centers across the country see 2.5 million patients a year — nearly a quarter of them are Latinx — and that number is growing. Latinxs are a vital part of the community and CPPEF is proud to stand with the Latinx community to ensure that all Latinxs have the opportunity to make their voices heard.

Latinxs are among the many disenfranchised groups — including young people, other communities of color, and immigrants, just to name a few — that have had barriers placed in their way to keep them from the polls. This hurts democracy.

Many Planned Parenthood health center patients are young people, people of color, immigrants, and individuals with low incomes who face hurdles when trying to participate in the political process. Voting is a fundamental part of democracy, but we all know a right is only as good as your ability to access it.

Voting is a form of agency, and it reflects your personal values. It’s also a mechanism to transform your community, and vote on the issues that matter to you most. The majority of Latinxs agree that voting is important. In fact, a recent Latino Decisions poll found that 76% of Latinx voters say it's important to vote in 2016.

Voting is not just a political act; it’s a personal one, too. There are many issues at stake in this election, including women’s health, economic justice, and immigration reform, just to name a few. It is important to learn about the candidates and their policies and how those policies can and will impact your life. Voting for the candidate who best suits your values is the best way to ensure the issues within your community are adequately addressed, whatever your beliefs may be.