It was a race against the clock: To try to register to vote the greatest number of Latinos throughout California.

    A dozen community organizations in the state, including Justice Overcoming Boundaries and the Human Rights Committee of Escondido, made this campaign over the weekend until Monday October 18, the deadline for people to be able to register to vote for the Nov. 2 election.

    The California campaign is part of one that spread to 8 states across the country.

    In recent years the number of new Latino voters has increased rapidly, but the biggest problem remains the low turn-out rate, said organizers of the campaign.

    In California there are 4.2 million naturalized citizens who can vote. From 2000 to 2008, the Latino turnout in the state increased 85 percent, to 2.9 million voters in 2008.

    Around 900 people were registered in San Diego this past weekend with the volunteer effort, said Alejandra Ramos, of the Human Rights Committee of Escondido.

    The campaign in San Diego mainly focused in Escondido for being a city where more than half the residents are Latino, but a small fraction of the electorate belongs to this ethnic group.

    The event, which was going from door to door registering people, was a success, according to Ramos.

    ”The goal we had in each city was different but together we registered a lot of people and that’s what counts,” she said. “The goal was to register the most we could, and we did!”

    Ramos echoed the problem that affects Latino voters, electoral abstinence.

    ”It was important to register more Latinos because it is the population that is growing most rapidly in this country and for whatever reason they do not register and do not come out to vote,” said Ramos. “It is important that our communities are civically and politically involved in this process of improving community welfare at all levels.”

    Ramos invited all Latinos who are registered to vote to exercise their vote.

    ”It’s important that we as Latinos know the importance of our voices and power of the popular vote,” said the activist. “The awareness of the changes that can be made locally with only one vote is a step to improving the welfare of our communities and every vote counts.”

    The organizer said the campaign to encourage Latinos to get out the vote will continue until November 2.

    ”In the following days we will make 10,000 calls to Latinos in San Diego County and we will knock on 7,000 doors in North County encouraging and informing the Latino community about the importance of voting,” said Ramos.

    As part of this campaign, several community organizations will have an educational forum in the city of Escondido that will cover frequently asked questions from our community about the government and the voting process.

    ”Get out to vote, get informed of local, state and federal laws and if you have time, volunteer and promote the vote in our communities,” said Ramos. “Make sure that Latino voices are heard at the polls this November 2.”

    The forum will be on Saturday, October 30 from 3 pm to 5 p.m. in the Escondido City Hall, City Council Chamber, 201 North Broadway, in Escondido. It will be in Spanish, and English translation will be available if necessary. Childcare is free.

    For more information on the forum, call 619.696.9474 or visit www.justicesandiego.org.