More than 23.7 million Latinos were eligible to vote in this year’s Presidential election. Some of them, from right here in Lexington.
“I voted because I could make a little difference that would help us all,” said first-time voter Jose Labarrere.
Labarrere came to the U.S. at the age of ten from La Havana, Cuba, and now has a bachelor’s degree in business. He says it’s important that Latinos participate in the elections.
“We live here as well, and the decisions made are going to affect us in our daily lives and in our future,” he said. “So it’s important we have a say, and that our lives are not in someone else’s hands.”
21-year-old Martha Orozco, also voted for the first-time this Presidential election.
“Some people say one vote doesn’t count, but I disagree. (Voting) made me feel important,” Orozco said.
Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Orozco came to the U.S. when she was 6 years old. Voting for her is representative of many other voices in addition to her own.
“Many people who don’t have the privilege to vote want their voices to be heard, so everyone who can, should vote,” Orozco said. “There’s a lot of us, but not a lot of us who can vote.”
Gaby Baca, 23, the Hispanic Outreach Coordinator at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, said her main concern this election was economy, “jobs and what the future will look like for the middle class,” as well as immigration.
Latinos have done their part in showing Obama their support at the polls this year, and Baca said that puts more pressure on the President to deliver action in return.
“Latinos helped President Obama stay in office, even though he has deported so many people,” she said, “So I definitely expect some change in immigration — the Dream Act or some version of it, or even immigration reform.”
To keep the pressure on and see results, Latinos will have to get involved, Baca said.
She said, “This is our country and if we don’t get involved, how can we expect change?”
Jenifer Abreu 