Latinos told the only way to influence policy changes is by voting

(Data source: Pew Research Center)

During Tuesday’s National Voter Registration Day, which is considered the largest single-day effort of the year to register voters, campaign organizers planned to host events all across the country to register Latinos to vote. At some of these events, celebrities were expected to make surprise appearances.

On social media, people were encouraged to use the hashtag #CelebrateNVRD as a way to encourage others to register to vote. Celebrities—like actress Rosario Dawson and actor Wilmer Valderrama—used the hashtag to encourage Latinos to register to vote.

“We are calling American Latinos to rise above our political differences and to unite as a community this November,” Maria Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino, said in a statement. “Today and for the next month, we will show that Latinos stand tall because we have pride in our culture, and we recognize the power of our vote.”

Cristobal Alex, president of the Latino Victory Project, said he believes that by exercising their right to vote, Latinos can build power “so that the faces and voices of Latinos are reflected at every level of government and in the policies that drive our country forward.”

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The goal of the campaign is to increase Latino voter turnout during this year’s midterm elections. It’s expected that more than 7.8 million Latinos will vote this November, up from 6.6 million Latinos who voted in the last midterm election in 2010. That’s according to projections by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, which is one of the more than 50 Latino groups involved with the campaign.

(Data source: Pew Research Center)

But motivating Latinos to vote this year won’t be easy, especially because many of them are frustrated with the political stalemate in Congress over immigration reform. Many of them are also disappointed with President Barack Obama’s decision to delay taking executive action on immigration.

SEE ALSO: Many Latino voters have lost faith in the political system

Campaign leaders are urging Latinos to not be discouraged. They’re telling Latinos to make their voices heard by voting this year so that they can create the political climate to find solutions for issues important to them, like immigration and the economy.

“Latinos understand that the only real way to impact our future is with a strong showing of our voting power,” Ben Monterroso, executive director of Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, said in a statment. “We began the immigration debate with our record turnout in the 2012 Election, and we will continue fighting for our community and for immigration reform by voting.”