The Spanish-language media company Telemundo wants all 32 million eligible Latinx citizens in the United States to vote in the 2020 presidential election.
The network’s non-partisan Decisión 2020 campaign, launched earlier this year, features phone banking, educational programs across television shows and social media platforms, and online informational guides that help people understand state-by-state rules and deadlines.
Telemundo is ramping up its efforts for National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, hosting panels and educational sessions on its TV programs and enlisting hundreds of bilingual volunteers to phone bank throughout the day.
Take Action: Check Your Voter Registration Status With 'Just Vote' Here
Shows including Un Nuevo Día, Noticias Mediodía, En Casa Con Telemundo, and Edición Noticias Telemundo are all focusing on voter education, registration, and turnout.
Latinos can make a difference in this year’s election! There are less than 45 days until #Election2020 and there's still time to register. More at: https://t.co/jwG9ykMzqk#Decision2020#NationalVoterRegistrationDaypic.twitter.com/ioEXVvW56O
— NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises (@NBCUTelemundo) September 22, 2020
“For the first time ever, Latinos will be the largest ethnic minority group eligible to vote,” Christina Kolbjornsen, senior vice president of corporate and external affairs at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, told Global Citizen.
“We take great pride in ensuring that the Latino community who Telemundo serves is completely informed and educated about the election, the registration process, and how to vote,” she said.
Latinx voters have the potential to sway the outcome of the 2020 election because of their large presence in key swing states such as Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Nevada.
The main issues influencing Latinx registered voters are the economy, health care, the COVID-19 pandemic, and racial and ethnic discrimination, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center.
Victor Ibarra Jr. (L), 23, and Daisy Campos (R), 23, share a laugh during a volunteer meeting at the headquarters of Jolt, a non-profit organization that works to increase the civic participation of Latinos in Texas, in Houston, Texas on Feb. 20, 2020.
Victor Ibarra Jr. (L), 23, and Daisy Campos (R), 23, share a laugh during a volunteer meeting at the headquarters of Jolt, a non-profit organization that works to increase the civic participation of Latinos in Texas, in Houston, Texas on Feb. 20, 2020.
Young Latinx voters, in particular, could have an outsized impact on the election. Between 2008 and 2018, more than 1.23 million Latinx people between the ages of 18 to 34 registered to vote, as the overall share of the non-Latinx voters in this age group declined by 1.24 million people overall, according to a report from Telemundo and BuzzFeed.
“Social justice is huge for the younger Latinos in the US,” Kolbjornsen said. “They state that the Black Lives Matter movement and protests are definitely something that is driving them to show up and vote.”
A recent survey found that 64% of young Latinx voters plan to vote in the election on Nov. 3.
Telemundo’s campaign revolves around helping voters develop a plan for voting, especially considering the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A voter reads about voting changes in Spanish while waiting in line to enter a polling station in the Echo Park Recreation Complex in Los Angeles, Calif., March 3, 2020.
A voter reads about voting changes in Spanish while waiting in line to enter a polling station in the Echo Park Recreation Complex in Los Angeles, Calif., March 3, 2020.
The network’s “Planifica Tu Voto,” or “Plan Your Vote,” tool provides real-time information on voting protocols.
Noticias Telemundo also launched a new fact-checking platform, T-Verifica, which provides daily fact checks on political candidates' statements.
“For this Decisión 2020 effort, our No. 1 priority is to inform with facts and the news," Kolbjornsen said. "We work very closely with our news department to inform our community with truth and facts. We are in the business of news, in sharing news, to allow our viewers and communities to make decisions on their own."
Global Citizen and HeadCount have teamed up to launch Just Vote, a campaign mobilizing young Americans to register to vote ahead of the 2020 election and beyond. As part of the campaign, your favorite artists and entertainers are offering exclusive experiences, performances, and memorabilia — and they can only be unlocked once eligible voters check their voter registration status. Learn more about Just Vote and how you can take action here.