Although we begin in cities New York and Chicago decades today, we are in a position to transform the social cultural and political landscape of the country as our numbers grow in in like Miami and since 1970, -, seven prominent institutions individuals have have contributed to the strengthening Puerto Rican diaspora. Florida's share 29 percent of total inflow from Puerto Rico to the United States between 2005 and 2016. Any other other state, the migration Florida has increased Florida's in trend to House more Puerto Ricans than traditional hubs like New York by 2016, The total number of Puerto Ricans in Florida had risen to one million 67747 an increase 23 percent 2010 the massive exodus that occurred after the Maria ripped through the island in 2017. The aftermath of this storm prompted longest blackout in US history. Layton disparity in federal. Relief aid and the death disaster in modern US systems, Puerto Ricans are American citizens, and as can register to vote in any and all elections. Once they are state side. this political power is is now being leveraged Alissa for progress. Alissa for progress works hard to engage Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities in Florida to be actors in the decision making propelling Hispanics into political office to strategies that use phone banking texting and. Facebook among other media and informed and enthusiastic of canvassers to reach out to our neighbors at their doors and at event. We change Florida without a strong Progressive Latino Latinos that Progressive force without a strong and organized Puerto Rican community. Strengthening the diaspora is our job. Together, we are stronger force United for progress or dignity for Puerto Rico and for Latinos here in Florida Julio together we are stronger for people and Latinos here in Florida together, we are stronger more powerful for change for growth for equality and prosperity Together. We are a United America for our future is Latino. Together we are a. Good evening everyone. My name Reyes and I am the director of of Vaas for Puerto Rico and I will be your moderator today on April thirteenth. All voting is Alyssa for progress, Vasser, Puerto Rico and 32 other organizations from the state published a letter with a set of recommendations for the governor and the Secretary of State to implement to ensure that our upcoming elections in August and November remain free, fair and safe in the way of having 19 some of those. Theys include ensuring that every voter gets a vote by mail application mailed them provided passage for a vote by mail ballots, expanding early voting dates and hours and establishing a curbside voting procedures during voting and Election day. This tune with the recommendations made by the supervisors of state, who also sent a letter to the governor. yet not has been done at the state level. so today we're gonna. Floridians voting rights the times of of Karina and can all do to ensure our right to vote is protected and our elections safe, particularly we will be discussing of recommendations with some of the legal action that. Organizations Alisa and and some legislative conversations on how to fund changes with finish with discuss what you can do at home to get ready for the coming elections and to help us push this work forward to walk us this will have three very knowledgeable wedding rights leaders who have have for our communities vote. We have Brett Ashworth, is the state director of all voting, is local. We have Marco. Who is the executive director and founder of Alyssa for progress and we have a very special guest Speaker, Senator Randolph Brac, who represents District 11, has of West Orange County in the Senate in the State Senate will take your questions chat up the end So we're gonna start with Bradley welcome Brad. Can you tell us a little bit more the letter that went out to governor and the Secretary of State on April thirteenth and what more? Where some of the recommendations that were made and how are they different from recommendations made by supervisors of elections? sure can you can you hear me? We hear you great' finger finger mariam Bradford with Allred local, all the biblical fights to discriminatory barriers to voting. we're extension of extension of the leadership conference on civil and rights. the letter that we sent with a 30. organizations and a lot a lot of other organizations it it dovetail the supervisor's recommendations on April seventh, but it very different. The supervisors had a nearest recommendations asking for for the governor to relax. I mean basically focus on executive actions so they focus on ways the government can relax statutes and give them more flexibility to meet the needs of the moment, which as they saw it were to allow more early voting days of to extend the time. The window through which they could send vote by mail ballots them and they they ask for some things have have some people on grumbling a little but it might be necessary and the devil might be might be in the details on how to do it They wanna relax relax relating in the in the consolidation, allowing you right now require the staes require them A- one phone, but they want to See that happen, whether it's and it it leads to a lot of challenges a lot of so they might need to, but we have to pay very careful how they do that as far as the the letter that organizations collectively produced and and and more not only A- one elections but legislator really every election or somebody anybody else in election decisions in the state a few different areas think I think everybody knows that one of the safest ways to vote that they open or given until the nineteenth is vote mail. so we've that the Mail every registered in application for ballot. This includes inactive voters because there are a lot of voters voters who've been put on the active steps that they received no email from supervisor. They've received very little if anything from the. Our campaigns so we're at the applications them and then also pay for return for both the application and the ballot and and include this common sense things like you need the How by mail how to track it how to to cure the ballot. one thing we actually have pretty good in comparatively. we did some other States more processed through the ballot Some questions about it's implemented well in in every County, but at least we have they need aggressively promote vote by mail. I I think a lot of already are, but they really it enough. It's the best shot against the best shot. We keep people safe one thing that would be a taller lift. It's not something that supervisors could do within their authority. it would probably take executive action get the legislatures not likely to meet, but we'd like to see them the deadline for receiving the by mail ballots. right now they have to receive. By seven at at seven PM on night, we'd like to see it accepted within days of it's it's postmarked election Day. Just like they do for military voters. that's already in the in the statue Ava voters are already doing already doing it for a certain set given what's happening that that seems like reasonable emergency staff On early, Somme is very but we can't just have a a by there's a lot of people who don't trust it, there are folks who have you voters with and challenges really need to vote from home. So need a safe in person options to one of the best ways to do that is to expand or early voting and you know, luckily the supervisors are on the same page and maybe even have positions in a lot of us. We're supporting as we didn't think doable sort of expanding it, if the governor takes no action they could still. The maximum number of days and hours within the existing authority, many of them don't some bigger counties do they're already planning to which is great, but we really need them all to the maximum amount of early voting so to to relieve that pressure and reduce those lines on election day. And as far as election day, you know there, there are a whole series of things. We need them to consider that we outline letter. we need to make sure they have. they follow public and that they have enough PPE for both employees and Shields employees. if possible, curbside voting options, we've been speaking to a lot of them one by one and they, you know some counties raise legitimate concerns in their ability to do that so. But you know, I think the big one is recruiting a poll workers a lot of them are aggressively doing this, but they're siding. It is their their concern as a lot lot of co-workers, understandably, or you know, like a better words, freaked out about so you know we've seen a lot of what's playing out in other States. You know Georgia yesterday had machines down the what a mess. What a mess in your last night, It was a mess. I mean some articles. Voters waiting in line for hours and it wasn't an isolated incident and you know just a week earlier. we saw you know a mess in Pennsylvania and then not maybe a month and a half we saw a mess in Wisconsin with you know voters stuck in long lines stretching know during a in so you know voting really be this difficult. you know, I think one of the big concerns we have are poll place closures in that. It's a. Expectation that a poll workers don't up. it will mean that they won't have have the staff keep sites open. just like they did in March in in Florida that happened all the state enforce them to to you know two problems. they had coworkers are not not showing up had polling places that had contracts with telling them they didn't want the public coming to so you know we have a little time to prepare they need to do everything they can to make make they're taking steps to have alternative facilities and to extent they do have to close polls and open. Sites' you they're calling vote centers sites they need to make sure they're placing those walking distance to minority communities, both both Hispanic and black and we're seeing already the worst and you are predicting we can predict due to our experience. You know other things happen you are and we do have some time time to prepare. Can us an update on what's happened since the letter was sent and have you seen any movement on this. A local levels. It's been absolutely no movement by the governor. he's is creating a perfect storm for Florida. for to be to be disenfranchised this fall. I think everybody should be putting pressure on him to He's not responded to the Association. I mean this bipartisan Association of locally elected constitutional officer running our elections. They've all had built consensus within their Organization reach out to them and he. They even followed up with another letter saying Hey, you know what's going on with this even lobbying and directly and not publicly taken a position reacted to similarly, he's not reacted at all to our that is the Secretary of state. so that's where it's Super. Oh, no, you know the silver lining is supervisors have a lot of authority in the counties to run elections, So there's there's a they're and there is some federal funding to the Cares Act that grants I guess I should. Credit That is one place where he finally did he longer than other States, States, but finally did request that funding. So So now a concern to get that funding into the hands of the counties so they can get what they need as soon as possible. There's something else should know about the the the state of letter. Whatever next you know steps or are we or or or or do you have any closing those issues that we just discuss? Yeah. I mean there's a there's there's a petition circulating that people can sign on to know just indicating support for these recommendations the governor. I think you know there lots of things that local the voters or. Within the organizations can do to communicate with their supervisors, the Secretary of of State and governor that they need to see movement on safeguarding our elections before it's too late. I mean we have a month maybe two months before it's too late and we really have to just plan for you know the election based on what we have at that point. Thank you very very our next guest our panel is a Marcos Vilar. Marcos is the founder and the director of Alyssa for progress Marcos. We know that your Organization a presented a with vote-by-mail. How did that happen? What? what are are stories that push that lawsuit? and what can you tell us about that? so as an Organization and I believe that should be easier and more difficult. and that was one of the reasons why we it was so easy. to sign the letter that talked about earlier and because everything we do is is really about making our democracy more of a democracy, making it more accessible the everyday then you know what we've seen recently where it's voting is made harder for people and a lot of the things we're covering in this lawsuit, which I wanna say I wanna also mention our Are the people that are suing with us the state of and the Governor of Florida. Ron DeSantis is Priorities, USA and the Florida Alliance for retired Americans and a individuals that are also individual plaintiff. So together we are doing you know you could think about it a little bit insurance for the letter Brad and and all voting is local presented and many of assigned Is the first step us, the suit was the second step because it addresses some of the same things that was talking about. example, are not the first thing that it addresses is the fact that this is is intending to make sure that the ballots that are cast by mail are now required to have on them so because in essence if you're asking a person. A stamp on the envelope you're asking asking them to pay a vote and that as we know is unconstitutional that has been that that is considered a poll poll tax, which in this country is illegal. currently thanks to the civil that that obtained basically basically made taxes illegal and so we're claiming that this putting a stamp is a poll tax. Type of pool particularly you in communities that or in right that do not have have the access in a car every day and be able to find the post office and or you know get get a stamp for that matter and also on the the younger generations people just don't use mail they they don't. There's people who just no longer use mail. They don't they're not familiar and there's. Lot of problems that can happen with and voting by mail, for example, depending on length the ballot, the ballot, envelope weigh more less, and one that may not be enough. Two might not be enough and if it's if there's a lot of amendments that we've seen a lot in Florida you might have to put stamps on the envelope and so you don't have a balance to weigh that at your home, you know you don't have a you know. To know many stamps go the on envelope, so we think and then there's also a lot of different counties who already free postage on ballots. So let's be consistent in the state of Florida. Let's eliminate the Osage let's eliminate this burden on people people to you know figure that out. So that's that's one of the elements that the that the suit is trying to. The other one Bret also mentioned is the deadline of when your can arrive to the supervisor of elections. We saw 2018 that a number of significant number of thousands of vote by mail ballots. We're not accepted because they were received the election period was over at seven PM on Day Even balance in these battles. we were post marked it excuse me. Before Election day, they were actually in the the mail and no of of the voter arrived at the at the Supervisor of Elections late and they they however because of the post office, if it was slow or know who knows what the postage. the balance did not arrived to the the supervisor elections on time. So we're saying the same thing that the letter says, but we're putting it basically on a law suit. You will accept what we're saying we want the of Florida to that come in Election Day and count them after Election particularly if they've been postmarked before the election date and then finally another thing that that we are trying to accomplish with the suit is that organizations like Alisa and many others who. Voters in educating them about the issues educating them about the about voting that we were able to help the voter get their ballot the supervisor of elections and that is an issue that some people have considered some what controversial but our our point and our our point in all of this is that there's many voters who do need help in getting their voter their voter their. Their supervisor of elections we can way to coordinate that with the supervisors of elections to ensure that the integrity of that voter of those ballots is is maintained from the moment it leaves the hands of voter to the the moment it gets supervisor of elections and there's many things happen in all kinds kinds of different in Nevada, there's no voting units. so there's cars that go around and. And and they can receive the voters. This is something this is something that we could with the supervisor of to Mobile stations right through specific times and these these are the of assistance that I think think can we're talking about obviously ensuring that the integrity of the ballots are maintained. Before go to do feel that the course will will side or dismiss an exercise democracy? No-I. I think there, there has has been instances where we have state and and case, Florida's not the only state that's that's pursuing measures like this. But in the the past, we found that suing the state works and that if it's and it's and and they have to take it seriously. you know. I think the first step is always to write write a letter to be to be diplomatic try request and get people to do do things having to involve the course, but we have I think in the last years, how rhetoric and the and the intention of a group group politicians that sort of are really working hard to make this less of a democracy and more autocratic system and we. When President Trump you know challenges Congress when when he does not respect the checks balances that the legislative branch has executive Grant. We see that when he named his buddies to the highest positions the Justice Department and and and and when Barra Obama a a a Supreme nomination and then put radical right-wing. you know. People in this so they're on their they're they're they're messing with with the the checks balances of our democracy. and you also also see it in different When state government make it difficult for people to exercise their right of right right to vote think this concerning and I think that as Americans everybody should be concerned about the about losing one little ounce of of Democratic rights, you lose one then you're. Another one and then they're gonna take one away and before know you know it, we're gonna living in in country. so for us this is this is using the system using the courts to fight and to correct and to make like I said in the very beginning, boarding easier for for all not it harder for a group of particular Americans who may be harder for them to. And Thank you very much Marcos. Thank you father that we wanted to talk about our our funding our legislative actions. Obviously recommendations need to be by the state location of those coming from the federal government to supervisor of elections to do that we have Senator Randolph Brae Senator Brae have you seen any movement happening in Tallahassee securing our our communities Voting rights for the upcoming elections. Have you heard? To whether the governor take action or the is going to go back in session anytime soon and also how are we going to respond to the caps that have resulted from 19 and is this election security one of those priorities? I you Senator Go ahead. you. sorry. Yeah. we have have not heard the governor or the Senate President and House House Speaker the leadership in Tallahassee regarding a special session. we've had a number of election reform that were that never got hearing in this past session and even in previous years, so I would just say that the current administration I don't know how much of a priority These initiatives that mentioned even some of that Brad mentioned how important they think they are. so there was a poll that was given to legislators about coming back to Tallahassee to address a number of issues, care among one of the education, but election security was one of of priorities that was asked legislators we come back to the special session to address and that poll? Pretty much went on party lines. The Democrats said said that yes, we need back and address election security, The Republicans said. No we don't and so because have more votes. we did get special session so it hasn't been addressed by the Tallahassee and from all indications. I don't I don't see any movement on this to be honest. As far as budget gaps I it's it's up to the governor as to what he's gonna do. I think he's talked about instead of calling us back to redo the budget, he has talked about just going to the current budget and looking to veto probably more than he had expected and to the budget that way and so I think we're waiting for some estimating numbers to see where our budget stands and I think he'll make a. From there, but I think from indications they're trying to avoid a special session. caught for a special session to deal with unemployment I've recently in the last couple of days to to to address reform. both of those requests been denied and so from all indications they will do all they can avoid this issue along with election security and a special session. And I think that's where we stand right now. Thank you so and thank you to all of we're gonna go go to and a but I would like to ask all of you in the order that you spoke to answer these two questions. The first first one be what can we do from home to ensure our right vote is secure? Brad. Well, one make sure you're registered your registration. Make sure it's up to make sure you have your current address on file. If you have the time make sure you have a current form P-file they'll give them any reason to protect your ballot and to attention What you know what read the news Watch what's going on and there's a lot lot information going on and there are a lot a lot of good groups who to set up tools to help the public cut through just bad. as far as what you can you can do, I mean you we again. we're pushing these recommendations. We have a petition that we we created just for this purpose. I'm not sure if we can link to it below but that's something you can find on our website. you can't really do this home, but I mean, are gonna actually I'll stop there. what you know. I would say to what you can do from home. You can also call call your supervisor of elections and ask questions if you're wondering how they're addressing certain issues you can give. State representatives and senators a and ask to call supervisors for you because they're more important important than us. No. that's not that's not true. They are you know they have they have their own rules. They have their own role. They a lot of clout and respect and they're good Messenger. If there's an issue I think we need to be working them a lot more closely advocate supervisors to do the things the things we need done. Absolutely. absolutely. Marcos. What. I cannot I cannot hear Marcos you're right because my my microphone is muted. you can hear me now right, Yes, Laura and clear so I think that one of the most important we need to do is make a plan. you gonna make sure that your vote and how it successfully and so thinking about I'm am I gonna go am I gonna mail am I gonna go early and I'm gonna wait for the last minute. No. We want to encourage Alyssa want encourage everyone to make a and we recommend that to make that plan. tap on the list is to to sign up to mail. We don't know it's cold. be impacting us in the same way that it is now if it's decrease the you know the chances of being the being spread is gonna increase increase or if it's gonna become a thing of the past. Hopefully that's that's that's what ends up happening. But if you your vote by mail, it doesn't mean that you have to go by mail. you can take that ballot break up and you know with you when you go voting in person if If you use the vote by mail ballot and then you can get in a new ballot and and vote in person at the you can vote in the traditional way that you the past, but we don't know how things are gonna be I recommend that everybody request their vote by mail and if you want other ideas on how how to make sure that your safe, I recommend that you visit our website Alisa vote. It's a special website. planning your way the elections. Alisa votes dot ORG strongly recommend people people to there for those who speaks Spanish. We also have another website Alisa Volta dot Org, and you can also register So if you know anyone who rather or more familiar with the with the voting in Spanish, they can also go in Spanish and get the same information on that website. So those are those are my. And issues and make sure that request your ballot by can always change your mind. You can always vote in person, but if you don't request your mail, then you will have no other option than to have to go go vote person and and that might just be inconvenient and under the cover 19, maybe even risky. so I say get your vote by mail ballot. Follow the instructions That's Brad say be very attentive to the instructions. Make sure you follow. Instructions Point by point and we're gonna be that don't have have to put a stamp on the envelope we're gonna be fighting so that even if you're a little bit late, turning that ballot in as long as you turn it it before election day, you will get your count Gracia Marcos Senator Brae What can we do from home to ensure our right to vote is secure? I think it was mentioned I think you need to make sure that you are are certain deadlines for registration If you wanna vote in the primary or even in the general, so people need to adhere to those registration deadlines and then I would just suggest that people of mail also this assures that your vote will be counted otherwise you'll have to go to both in person and in this climate, we just don't know what that would look like. would call your supervisor election because this this locations may change and so you definitely wanna be aware of and then whatever you do, I just would suggest and I know people like to on Election day, I would suggest vote by or vote early we we don't wanna see a like we've seen in Georgia and other places where we have these long long avoid that by voting early or vote vote by mail. Thank you senator for our audience. what can the audience do to our work Brad Well, I think there's you know you can get involved groups like Aleza all is local and and there are many other good groups who are doing work on the ground. they can also volunteer for election protection. there's a huge network of non partisan election advocates. with a lot of different roles, people can be pulled monitors. They can monitor you know just like Senator Tracey they're gonna be a lot of a lot of They're likely to be a lot of changes to polling places. We need people in every. In the state monitoring what those changes are gonna be so we can the word out real time and post ads if necessary, but we need people who can connect as online can monitor the canvas. you know know know, just like we saw Georgia last night, there were a were a lot of issues with provisional ballots. didn't order enough for this ballots that they're they're always issues with you know questions and and they will pause for collectible reasons and We have reason to believe there will be a lot of people that voters if so we need people monitoring canvases at the end. also you can share your story. I mean one thing I guess it should have been included what you can do from home. you know mean as advocates we need stories we real. you know, like example, example, the problems have occurred to you when it's done. If you run into problem you know we we our Organization has a a tool on the and still with the there's a six Orville hot one as well and I believe there's several different numbers for different languages. You can tell your story, but and and are we taking signatures for the over voting in this local petition. Yes in Samuel. Just put that in the in the right, okay? Okay. Thank Thank you Michael's one audience home. Yeah I first want to thank I recognized of voting is local, Brad Ashford and Mobile who's idea was to have this this panel tonight I wanna Thank you for doing this. Maria for hosting the the The panel and Senator Randall Grazie is a privilege to have you here tonight with us our country. Facing some of the hardest moments that in lifetime that we we've seen this before and we've seen worse, but we think that we get to a point where better. And so really this conversation is ensuring that we take our country in right direction that we do not allow those who would disenfranchise us to do do so to answer your question. think the first thing that we can do do all go to the voting is is local petition and sign it. Do not wait one minute sign sign the petition can get them to move without us having to the lawsuit. That's a better but if not let's make sure let's make a commitment that not only yourself. we're gonna go out and vote. not only you're gonna register to and not only you're gonna vote by mail but all of your neighbors all of your friends. All your family also in the know and knows exactly how to do it. Let's get together. let's let. Meetings where families come together and talk about voting where if you to vote, you can discuss the ballot and understand who are the who are the people that are running for this very important positions that will be making decisions about us so that when we the opportunity to confront a bad moment, we have the right people in place that make the right decisions and so that that's my recommendation is to stay active. Also I would ask everyone visit aleza social media sites. There's of information that we give out day whether it's on voting on who's running and on a regular that happen on the day to day current events right They affect us people and so I would strongly recommend that you become active and if you wanna volunteer, we have plenty of work to do so please reach out to to us. to organizations like all voting is local work with your elected officials and make sure that we're all active and making this. Country that we needed to be where it's be the future for the children and and for the youth come behind us. Yeah. Thank Thank you I'm gonna have the same question for Senator Gracie but I I like to stress what said the voter education conversation need to happen at home with loved ones with your neighbors with you with your church, You we need to raise our community to a community of voters and and be the capitalist for change I I put. More you with that remark, Gracia Marcos Senator Brae what can we do from home? Well, I mean, I think you said perfectly, We have to engage as many people possible and I think we have the most effect on people that we know and so I just think this is so and we really need to our friends circle engaged in election. so you know just personal touch of of people in your circle is is extremely important and. Just say we need support groups like this all local aleja. I it you're you're on the front informing people about voter protection and election security and these types of issues. I mean, I would also mention there some other non profits who are helping to register as felons. I mean all of these issues are. And so I would just say whatever a person passionate about there's opportunities to to partner with groups that are doing some good work and so I I would just reach out to them but stay engaged and stay active this cycle. Okay. Thank so I'm going to I don't know if you access to the questions that that we have on live comments what we have. We have a great conversation. Okay somewhere well is put in some. How can one sign up to become a poll worker and how much does it does it pay? That's a good question. I don't maybe one of you all know I know you would reach out to supervisor of election office, but I do not know how much they pay. I think that's the I mean I would say say the same I would reach out to to your supervisor of election of the County you live in and it might differ from County County as Yes, it does it does varies from state state. so I think that's the the we need to to to our reach to office of election and you know and I think it's. At think we have of that, especially these people that speak Spanish that speak they need to get to to the need to be their present present because you know intimidated when they get there. They don't have translation. so that's an excellent question. I don't know if any of the panelists have some more to say about that specific question about coworker. we love our our coworkers. I think that the problems that we've seen in the primaries. the presidential primaries has been The period of that they are of coworkers that that goal because they're elderly a lot of people. When you go, you see it a lot of the people that work are usually steers and not all, but many of them are seniors and they do this because it's it's their civic duty and and and in a way for them to to the community and to our Democratic process, But I I would really call young people who look at go to your of elections. Find out the details how it is that you need become. usually. it's a very simple training that you need to take you can take it in a. When they pay you for it, it's a great opportunity for to involved involved and to to become I was strongly strongly for long african-american people listen to show Latino, who are listening to everybody more people involved. This is the you you country to remain a democracy for the rest of your life. You don't wanna be for eight years now and you need to really activate and this is something really is important because if you're in that in that voting place, ensuring the people. Go to vote are voting in the right way and that they're helped and that that they're not kept that is valuable to go to them. You're contributing and a very precious act to maintain our way of life and I would I was recommend that people look for that and become active and become coworkers. find out what does it take? It's usually simple. and I think that during Cogan 19, we're gonna be in need of coworkers. They do pay well. so we are gonna see another okay. question. are there many current issues with people living in motels? I mean, I'll go ahead, you're right go Well. was just gonna say I mean this is one of the issues that's particularly problematic by mail because people need to have an address that they can send the yeah. I mean I think it's I don't know there's a good solution. except except we need to for them to you know, make sure they've read the word and go to vote early if they don't have an address and receive a vote by mail ballot and yeah the the. Bullying is the last one for people that do not have home long term home, so it is a a it is an issue and there's organizations like both writers who are part are part our coalition who specifically with situations like that. I think that recommend that that we have bull riders come to. I think they're gonna be on Spanish they to tomorrow. at the same time. We're gonna have for in the Spanish version of this town Hall Yes and so. I know they do work with people need that idea. They don't need that that that address you know in order order to vote and there ways that people who don't have annas can vote, but it's a little bit. It's it's one of those things. Those are the people that find it harder to vote than others and we our job is to make it easier for them to vote just because because they don't a standard or long term address does not mean that they should be disenfranchised. They still have the right to vote. Absolutely. Have any other questions in our yes? Thank you much can I track mail in in ballot? Yes, can you can track track it by going your supervisor of elections and and and and putting in your and it'll tell you if your ballot has arrived or not. If someone signs for vote mail, can they change their and then go to the polls directly. They can they can basically they go to poll. they can cancel ballot and they are issued another and they can go a regular ballot in person. Yeah some people when they sign up for to vote by mail that obviously shows up on the record of the voter when they go to vote in person if they they change their mind and they go vote in person you absolutely can person even if you sign up to vote by mail that is legally the law. You vote in person and even if if you sign for to vote by however, the best thing to do is to to your mail in ballot with you as proof that that haven't sent in because a lot of people what they do a lot of coworkers, you know know they're they they work in elections year round, so they don't know all the rules and there's a tendency people to say, know, maybe you voted and more you wanna vote a second time, but if you bring your mailing ballot with you to the polling location and you say here's my Bowl. I did not vote. I did not use it. You can can tear it up right there they'll tear it up for you and they'll give you the in-person voting ballot, which is the exact ballot. It's just that it's a track differently. other thing I remember remember is vote you you know required to have drop boxes at all the early voting sites now, so you can drop your vote by mail ballot off at a a box up Day as well. So getting it early. really just gives you options. Yes. An on Florida voter registration system. I don't know that there's an update. I mean they they went through overhaul of it. you know we've been looking really closely at the voter registration system, which was well, well, actually that's what about. So yeah. we are looking this closely is this the person with question probably knows it broke down both in the the primary and the November general in 2018, which was the first election it was available since then I. It intermittent problems this past March. we've followed up with the Secretary state and I haven't really got many answers yet. we have worked with the group called American Oversight to get a number of public records. we've been digging through you thousands of pages of emails and still not really clear why it's consistently breaking down what they're doing to fix it and what they're doing to make sure it doesn. Again, particularly before closing in a know contentious presidential election year, where we have lot of third party that registration who haven't used in the past who are going to be using using because they can't do do a lot of the registration hand in hand a lot of these people who haven't been using in the past, we're gonna be using the that's gonna be a hundreds thousands more registrations and are already busy presidential election year. so we're we're very concerned about this and we we're gonna as. We're trying to be but we don't get answers soon, we're gonna be a lot more about it. Yeah, some States are a lot proactive than than Florida's making boating easy people and I I think that some of the things that I've heard considered or being proposed. obviously they need to go through process and and I don't know if they're gonna be if it's be from now November to implement some of these ideas, but there's things to do automatic voter registration If you're a citizen and you're age of 18, you're I think. Is one of them you eligible to You don't have to register to vote. automatically registered. you know to vote in the system and it's a a know logical thing. Why do you have to be a very straightforward for sure? Yeah? you have to go through the extra step of registering vote and having to do it days before the election and then if you do it, then you don't get to vote. I think that all of these things for sure like you know Hurdles that are placed in order to harder for people to vote and in a democracy. it should should be easiest thing to do it shouldn't even be an an issue. just if you're 18 and you're a citizen and you can prove your your citizenship and you have your your your your driver's license and everything that your documentation you should be able to walk into into a voting location and and capture your vote. so think that there's a lot of interesting conversations and this issue with Cori is bringing up a lot of of concerns and. Opportunities for us to really push harder to make voting in here. I'm not sure yes, there's another question. Where is the best place to go my information about my local and National candidates. I mean so the supervisor of elections website for your County have a page that has all the races and candidates that's the place and we'll have a local races too. There's a lot of of organizations that beyond also give you information 10 minutes stand on different issues and and what it what issues the importance of those issues disputes. So we invite everyone to come to Elsa Dot Org and look at what we say about the candidates and where and where on different issues because it doesn't matter. I mean elections do have consequences we are living through a very difficult moment right now, where Americans and Latinos are you know the butt of a horrible rhetoric. From the White House and from mother and for many state government across the and was not the case four years ago, our country literally gone by 4050 years in history to where we are right right now and we need to bring back that that understanding that we're we're a part of part of country and that we are unified and so we need to to we to make sure that voting happens and that's easy. Not in all processes that people put put together in order order to I'll just say, also most local clubs have a website of each candidate in there in their County, and I know that's in Orange County. Yeah, also recommend I mean there are like just like many of our organizations will have you know either town halls. be talking out. get out and join events like this one and Give an educated voter look for that knowledge get involved with civic civically engaged because it's our it's our duty and it really our our future depends on that. So I think think that's where all the for today. we're gonna gonna be closing panel for all of you that are in home listening to us. Remember to register to vote if you're not. And encourage your and family and members to vote and you can go online and you can visit register to vote Florida dot Gov or you can also vote by mail on a website. Alisa Goss dot and don't forget the the 2020 census ASAP. all of the organizations we're trying to have community members engaged of the on the stas. Please don't forget that. You to our panelists tonight. Thank to everyone that joined. We had a had a lot of participation. a lot questions and we're having this similar this tomorrow at five PM. It's going to be in Spanish and we're going to have the same conversations so I invite everybody to spread the your spanish-speaking to join us tomorrow and I think we'll see each other tomorrow.