Florida
The Hispanic vote in Florida was without hyperbole the key swing vote in both the presidential and many local state elections in 2008. Democracia U.S.A. has already registered more than 200,000 new voters in Florida, the third largest Hispanic population in the country. Regardless of this development and the continuous growth of the Latino electorate attributed to Democracia U.S.A. since 2004, Central Florida’s emerging Hispanic communities have not secured fair political representation in local elections. In Osceola County for example, only recently has Democracia U.S.A.’s work granted opportunities for some representation through our voter registration, GOTV, and county redistricting effort. During 2006, two Federal lawsuits were brought by Hispanics seeking district elections for the city and county commissions; in accordance with the Voting Rights Act, a Federal judge ordered county redistricting to accommodate the growing Osceola Hispanic population. In addition to these challenges at the ballot box, an active KKK chapter operates in Osceola County. South Florida has the largest Hispanic population in Florida. The South Florida region enjoys a rich Latino political history and offers them an established political infrastructure as a starting point that includes significant elected Hispanic leadership. This dynamic makes Miami a natural base for Democracia U.S.A.'s operation. And though there are many issues that plague Floridians like the no-match/no-vote laws and state redistricting, Florida continues to be ground zero electorally; and Florida Hispanics play a large role since they constitute 9% of all Hispanics in the U.S.
Democracia U.S.A. Central Florida
5449. Semoran Boulevard, Suite 235
Orlando, FL 32822
Office: (407) 384-6832
Fax: (407) 384-6835
(Located in the Hoffner Commerce Center)
Contact: Roberto Cancel
E mail: rcancel@democraciausa.org
Democracia U.S.A. South Florida
2915 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 210
Miami, FL 33137
Office: (305) 573-7329
Fax: (305) 573-6551
Contact: Sandra Urquiza
E mail: surquiza@democraciausa.org
Democracia U.S.A partners for Florida
- Miami Beach Hispanic Community Center
1701 Normandy Drive
Miami Beach, FL. 33140
Tel: (305) 867-0051 - Fax: (305) 867-0052
www.mbhcc.org - United for dignity
(305) 623-3000
