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Esta página no está disponible en español. U.S. Newswire Over 336,000 Puerto Rican, Hispanic Voters Registered In Nation's Largest Nonpartisan Voter Initiative To Play Pivotal Role In Election October 28, 2004 WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 /U.S. Newswire/ -- As part of its long- term nonpartisan voter education, registration and mobilization campaign, "Que Nada Nos Detenga" ('Let Nothing Stop Us'), the government of Puerto Rico successfully registered more than 336,000 mainland Puerto Rican and Hispanic voters since that campaign was launched in July 2002. In three crucial battleground states -- Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio -- nearly 100,000 new voters have been registered. More than 3.4 million Puerto Ricans reside on the U.S. mainland where, according to the Synovate 2004 Hispanic Blue Book, 75 percent of eligible Puerto Ricans are registered to vote -- more than any other Hispanic subgroup. In the last ten years, the Puerto Rican population on the mainland has grown by nearly 30 percent, including over 100 percent growth in Florida, 59 percent in Pennsylvania and 44 percent in Ohio. Trends indicate that neither Republican nor Democratic parties can take the Puerto Rican vote for granted, and candidates who pay attention to the issues that are important to the Puerto Rican community are most successful. 2002 exit poll data revealed 87 percent reported that issues that "impact and affect Puerto Rico" are very important to them. 2003 exit poll data indicated 49 percent of Puerto Ricans chose to vote because they felt "their voice needs to be heard" and 28 percent because "the issues are important to me," yet only 20 percent indicated they voted because the "candidates or parties on the ballot need my support." -- 3.4 million Puerto Ricans live on the mainland U. S.; 650,000 in Fla.; 228,557 in Pa.; 66,269 in Ohio -- Que Nada Nos Detenga registered more than 336,000 voters on the mainland United States, including: 59,128 in Florida; 22,148 in Pennsylvania; 7,566 in Ohio -- GOTV efforts underway in local communities in key battleground states include: Florida: Orlando, Kissimmee, Tampa, Central Florida Pennsylvania: Allentown, Lancaster, Redding, Bethlehem Ohio: Cleveland, Lorraine -- GOTV outreach activities in battleground states include: Direct mailing of nonpartisan educational materials to more than 300,000 residents Door-to-door canvassing with informational materials on the voting process and voting rights Community rallies, transportation opportunities and sound trucks Toll-free hotline (1-800-596-VOTA) to confirm registration, identify voting locations, report discrimination -- Rallies and grassroots activities will take place in various local communities this weekend. For additional information on these activities or to obtain high-resolution photos, please contact Celeste Diaz at 202-271-7263 -- Exit poll data from key states conducted by Synovate -- one of the world's most respected research firms and the producer of the annual Hispanic Blue Book -- will be available following the election; PRFAA is one of the few nonpartisan organizations conducting significant sampling of the Hispanic market in battleground states. ------ PRFAA operates 12 regional community outreach offices in Boston, Springfield (Mass.), Chicago, Cleveland, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Newark, Orlando and Philadelphia and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Contacts: Celeste Diaz Ferraro, 202-271-7263 or cdiaz(At)prfaa.com, both for the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration
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