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| Will Puerto Ricans be the ultimate swing voters in Florida? | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| In public spaces across central Florida – from schools to churches, restaurants to supermarkets, fairgrounds to DMV car licensing offices – a massive scramble is drawing to a close to register Puerto Ricans to vote in what could prove to be a tipping point in next month’s presidential election. | In public spaces across central Florida – from schools to churches, restaurants to supermarkets, fairgrounds to DMV car licensing offices – a massive scramble is drawing to a close to register Puerto Ricans to vote in what could prove to be a tipping point in next month’s presidential election. |
| The cut-off for voter registrations in Florida is this week and as the deadline has approached, efforts to cajole hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans to sign up for a ballot have reached fever pitch. (On Monday, a federal judge extended the 11 October deadline by one day to allow for the disruption of the hurricane.) Volunteers mobilized by a new coalition of Hispanic groups called Que Vote Mi Gente – my people vote – have been stationed for weeks now outside favored gathering spots accosting newcomers from the island about their civic duty. | The cut-off for voter registrations in Florida is this week and as the deadline has approached, efforts to cajole hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans to sign up for a ballot have reached fever pitch. (On Monday, a federal judge extended the 11 October deadline by one day to allow for the disruption of the hurricane.) Volunteers mobilized by a new coalition of Hispanic groups called Que Vote Mi Gente – my people vote – have been stationed for weeks now outside favored gathering spots accosting newcomers from the island about their civic duty. |
| “Are you registered to vote? Are you ready to vote?” is the battle cry, and even the most superficial of glances at the statistics tells why. Florida is famously the swing state to end all swing states, ever since George Bush squeaked past Al Gore in the 2000 race for the White House with a disputed 500 votes. | “Are you registered to vote? Are you ready to vote?” is the battle cry, and even the most superficial of glances at the statistics tells why. Florida is famously the swing state to end all swing states, ever since George Bush squeaked past Al Gore in the 2000 race for the White House with a disputed 500 votes. |
| Within Florida, the rapidly expanding Puerto Rican community along the I-4 corridor that runs from Orlando to Tampa has become the ultimate swing vote within the ultimate swing state in the 2016 campaign. “This is the new mecca for Puerto Ricans and it’s changing the electoral map,” said Betsy Franceschini, Florida director of the Hispanic Federation, which is participating in the voter drive. | Within Florida, the rapidly expanding Puerto Rican community along the I-4 corridor that runs from Orlando to Tampa has become the ultimate swing vote within the ultimate swing state in the 2016 campaign. “This is the new mecca for Puerto Ricans and it’s changing the electoral map,” said Betsy Franceschini, Florida director of the Hispanic Federation, which is participating in the voter drive. |
| Every day, about 100 Puerto Ricans relocate from the island to central Florida, pushed by the financial crisis back home and pulled by the lure of jobs in Disney World and the other theme parks that pepper the area. There are now 1.1 million “boricuas”, as the newcomers are known in Florida, a demographic that is on the verge of toppling Cubans from their perch as the state’s dominant Hispanic bloc. | Every day, about 100 Puerto Ricans relocate from the island to central Florida, pushed by the financial crisis back home and pulled by the lure of jobs in Disney World and the other theme parks that pepper the area. There are now 1.1 million “boricuas”, as the newcomers are known in Florida, a demographic that is on the verge of toppling Cubans from their perch as the state’s dominant Hispanic bloc. |
| With at least 200,000 boricuas having arrived in Florida since the last presidential election in 2012 – all of whom are eligible to vote at the age of 18 as US citizens – they have the potential to be a major, and possibly even decisive, political force in a state that gave Barack Obama the nod four years ago by only 74,000 votes. Which is in large part why both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are pummeling central Florida with TV ads – the Tampa region with an ad spend of $21m and the Tampa area with $17m occupying both the top two slots in the league table of presidential ad markets in 2016. | With at least 200,000 boricuas having arrived in Florida since the last presidential election in 2012 – all of whom are eligible to vote at the age of 18 as US citizens – they have the potential to be a major, and possibly even decisive, political force in a state that gave Barack Obama the nod four years ago by only 74,000 votes. Which is in large part why both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are pummeling central Florida with TV ads – the Tampa region with an ad spend of $21m and the Tampa area with $17m occupying both the top two slots in the league table of presidential ad markets in 2016. |
| Which is all very well, but first you have to get the new arrivals to register to vote … | Which is all very well, but first you have to get the new arrivals to register to vote … |
| “Are you registered to vote?” comes the cry outside the DMV licensing office in Kissimmee. That’s the ground zero of Puerto Rican voter registration this year: Kissimmee has a majority Latino population and is one of the fastest-growing towns in the state as a result of the boricua exodus. | “Are you registered to vote?” comes the cry outside the DMV licensing office in Kissimmee. That’s the ground zero of Puerto Rican voter registration this year: Kissimmee has a majority Latino population and is one of the fastest-growing towns in the state as a result of the boricua exodus. |
| And within Kissimmee the one place that new arrivals can surely be found is the DMV. Try living in Florida without a car. | And within Kissimmee the one place that new arrivals can surely be found is the DMV. Try living in Florida without a car. |
| The staff of the Hispanic Federation have spent weeks patiently waiting outside the DMV offices to pounce on boricuas such as Narciso Rey, 55, a retired shop supervisor who arrived in the town from Puerto Rico barely two weeks ago. “I’m ready to vote,” he said compliantly as he was being collared by the volunteers and encouraged to fill out a voter registration form. “It’s important for the family, and for me, to take part in deciding who will be the next president.” | The staff of the Hispanic Federation have spent weeks patiently waiting outside the DMV offices to pounce on boricuas such as Narciso Rey, 55, a retired shop supervisor who arrived in the town from Puerto Rico barely two weeks ago. “I’m ready to vote,” he said compliantly as he was being collared by the volunteers and encouraged to fill out a voter registration form. “It’s important for the family, and for me, to take part in deciding who will be the next president.” |
| On paper, the growing number of registered Puerto Ricans in Florida looks like an electoral gift for Clinton. The latest poll of Puerto Ricans in Central Florida conducted by Latino Decisions for the Center for American Progress Action Fund found that 61% of those surveyed, all of whom are already registered, said they were certain to back Clinton while only 12% definitely support Trump. | On paper, the growing number of registered Puerto Ricans in Florida looks like an electoral gift for Clinton. The latest poll of Puerto Ricans in Central Florida conducted by Latino Decisions for the Center for American Progress Action Fund found that 61% of those surveyed, all of whom are already registered, said they were certain to back Clinton while only 12% definitely support Trump. |
| That’s not quite up to the stellar ratings of Obama in 2012, who according to exit polls gained 87% of the Puerto Rican vote in the state compared with 13% for the Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, but it’s getting there. So much so that Luis Gutiérrez, a Democratic Congress member for Chicago who is of Puerto Rican descent, dared to interpret the poll results as a solid indicator that “Donald Trump is going to lose Florida and lose the electoral college, and Puerto Ricans in particular will be a huge part of Hillary Clinton’s victory.” | That’s not quite up to the stellar ratings of Obama in 2012, who according to exit polls gained 87% of the Puerto Rican vote in the state compared with 13% for the Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, but it’s getting there. So much so that Luis Gutiérrez, a Democratic Congress member for Chicago who is of Puerto Rican descent, dared to interpret the poll results as a solid indicator that “Donald Trump is going to lose Florida and lose the electoral college, and Puerto Ricans in particular will be a huge part of Hillary Clinton’s victory.” |
| But there is no room for complacency on the Democratic side, judging from the comments of the boricuas the Guardian talked to in Kissimmee. Narciso Rey, completing his registration form outside the DMV, said he was totally unclear about whether to back Trump or Clinton. “I’m still studying, watching, trying to work out which way to go. I’m going to have to eat, drink and relax before I decide,” he said. | But there is no room for complacency on the Democratic side, judging from the comments of the boricuas the Guardian talked to in Kissimmee. Narciso Rey, completing his registration form outside the DMV, said he was totally unclear about whether to back Trump or Clinton. “I’m still studying, watching, trying to work out which way to go. I’m going to have to eat, drink and relax before I decide,” he said. |
| At Melao Bakery, a classic Puerto Rican restaurant that serves quesitos, cream-filled doughnuts and a popular dish of fried green plantain called mofongo, several of the customers were also still wavering between the candidates. Ileana Rivera, 36, said that though she is registered to vote she knows next to nothing about either of them. | At Melao Bakery, a classic Puerto Rican restaurant that serves quesitos, cream-filled doughnuts and a popular dish of fried green plantain called mofongo, several of the customers were also still wavering between the candidates. Ileana Rivera, 36, said that though she is registered to vote she knows next to nothing about either of them. |
| Her friend dining with her, Jackie Hernandez, 41, said she was more up on the race, but not in a good way. “I don’t like either of them. If they are my only choices, I would say I go more towards Trump.” | Her friend dining with her, Jackie Hernandez, 41, said she was more up on the race, but not in a good way. “I don’t like either of them. If they are my only choices, I would say I go more towards Trump.” |
| A married couple, Yolanda Quiles, 37, and Carlos Baez, 40, who came from the island two years ago to give their kids a better chance of a good school, said they have been confused by all the attacks and counter-attacks flying between the two candidates. At the end of the day, they both expect to vote for Clinton, but only as she’s the non-Trump option. | A married couple, Yolanda Quiles, 37, and Carlos Baez, 40, who came from the island two years ago to give their kids a better chance of a good school, said they have been confused by all the attacks and counter-attacks flying between the two candidates. At the end of the day, they both expect to vote for Clinton, but only as she’s the non-Trump option. |
| “I don’t like politicians, I don’t like them in Puerto Rico and I don’t like them here,” said Quiles. “Trump insults Mexicans and Latin Americans, and that’s us too,” said Baez. | “I don’t like politicians, I don’t like them in Puerto Rico and I don’t like them here,” said Quiles. “Trump insults Mexicans and Latin Americans, and that’s us too,” said Baez. |
| This fundamental lack of joy about either presidential candidate chimes with the struggles that the leaders of Que Vote Mi Gente have had this year in registering people. Despite the herculean efforts of the coalition, there remains an engagement gap with only 60% of Puerto Ricans registered compared with 80% of all Floridians. | This fundamental lack of joy about either presidential candidate chimes with the struggles that the leaders of Que Vote Mi Gente have had this year in registering people. Despite the herculean efforts of the coalition, there remains an engagement gap with only 60% of Puerto Ricans registered compared with 80% of all Floridians. |
| Newly arrived boricuas are often too preoccupied settling in, finding a home and a school for their children, to care about an election in a country that is still unfamiliar to them. Skepticism toward politicians runs deep in Puerto Rico and has been carried by many migrants like Quiles with them to their new homes. | Newly arrived boricuas are often too preoccupied settling in, finding a home and a school for their children, to care about an election in a country that is still unfamiliar to them. Skepticism toward politicians runs deep in Puerto Rico and has been carried by many migrants like Quiles with them to their new homes. |
| There also remains a disconnect between the rapidly growing community of boricuas and the candidates who are so eager for their votes yet understand little about their culture or priorities. The millions of dollars of TV ads that are being flung at central Florida merely disguise what Franceschini of the Hispanic Federation calls the “cultural incompetence” of their campaigning. | There also remains a disconnect between the rapidly growing community of boricuas and the candidates who are so eager for their votes yet understand little about their culture or priorities. The millions of dollars of TV ads that are being flung at central Florida merely disguise what Franceschini of the Hispanic Federation calls the “cultural incompetence” of their campaigning. |
| I don’t like politicians, I don’t like them in Puerto Rico and I don’t like them here | I don’t like politicians, I don’t like them in Puerto Rico and I don’t like them here |
| In Puerto Rico, electioneering is a matter of song and color and noise, with motorcades, or caravanas, trailing after candidates and crowds filling the streets waving flags and dancing to la plena folk music. In Florida, about the most exciting sight is a bank of lawn signs and a flyer or two pushed through the door often printed in English. | In Puerto Rico, electioneering is a matter of song and color and noise, with motorcades, or caravanas, trailing after candidates and crowds filling the streets waving flags and dancing to la plena folk music. In Florida, about the most exciting sight is a bank of lawn signs and a flyer or two pushed through the door often printed in English. |
| “It applies to both Democrats and Republicans,” Franceschini said. “Unless they figure out how to address Puerto Ricans, to campaign in a way that is culturally competent, then they are both missing an enormous opportunity as this vote could decide everything.” | “It applies to both Democrats and Republicans,” Franceschini said. “Unless they figure out how to address Puerto Ricans, to campaign in a way that is culturally competent, then they are both missing an enormous opportunity as this vote could decide everything.” |
| The Latino Decision poll underlined the gap between potential and reality. Some 84% of the 500 Puerto Ricans who participated in the survey said they definitely intended to cast a ballot next month, yet only 37% said that they had been contacted by anyone from a presidential campaign, political party or community organization to discuss their intentions. | The Latino Decision poll underlined the gap between potential and reality. Some 84% of the 500 Puerto Ricans who participated in the survey said they definitely intended to cast a ballot next month, yet only 37% said that they had been contacted by anyone from a presidential campaign, political party or community organization to discuss their intentions. |
| “Puerto Ricans have not heard enough from the campaigns,” said Congressman Gutiérrez. “You would expect them to be among the most highly sought after voters in the country – it is not enough for Democrats to assume their support just because their candidate is not Donald Trump.” | “Puerto Ricans have not heard enough from the campaigns,” said Congressman Gutiérrez. “You would expect them to be among the most highly sought after voters in the country – it is not enough for Democrats to assume their support just because their candidate is not Donald Trump.” |
| In the absence of meaningful political engagement, the Hispanic Federation is seeking to fill some of the gap with its own non-partisan messaging. It will be running its own TV ad campaign from now until November exhorting Puerto Ricans to vote, using an animated little brown tree frog, the coqui, which is a symbol of the island’s national pride. | In the absence of meaningful political engagement, the Hispanic Federation is seeking to fill some of the gap with its own non-partisan messaging. It will be running its own TV ad campaign from now until November exhorting Puerto Ricans to vote, using an animated little brown tree frog, the coqui, which is a symbol of the island’s national pride. |
| Rumor-mongering is another, less civic, way the void has been filled. One story doing the rounds, which was repeated to the Guardian by several people in Kissimmee, is that Trump intends to remove US citizenship from Puerto Ricans should he become president. A basic Google search reveals that the story began as a fake news report in a satirical magazine and rapidly took on a life of its own via social media. | Rumor-mongering is another, less civic, way the void has been filled. One story doing the rounds, which was repeated to the Guardian by several people in Kissimmee, is that Trump intends to remove US citizenship from Puerto Ricans should he become president. A basic Google search reveals that the story began as a fake news report in a satirical magazine and rapidly took on a life of its own via social media. |
| Outside the Unidos supermarket in Kissimmee, a sense of political weariness hangs in the air along with the enduring heat of early autumn. Luis Arze, 58, sat under a row of fans keeping cool. “I don’t want to vote for anyone, they’ve got so many problems,” he said. | Outside the Unidos supermarket in Kissimmee, a sense of political weariness hangs in the air along with the enduring heat of early autumn. Luis Arze, 58, sat under a row of fans keeping cool. “I don’t want to vote for anyone, they’ve got so many problems,” he said. |
| Kiara Balasquide is one of the enthusiasts. Born and raised in Kissimmee, she is a volunteer in the Hispanic Federation’s voter registration drive and is fired up about the election: at 19 it will be her first chance to choose her president. | Kiara Balasquide is one of the enthusiasts. Born and raised in Kissimmee, she is a volunteer in the Hispanic Federation’s voter registration drive and is fired up about the election: at 19 it will be her first chance to choose her president. |
| In her personal capacity, how will she use that new and potentially critical power? According to the statistics, she should be gung-ho for Clinton, but no, she’s stuck on the fence. | In her personal capacity, how will she use that new and potentially critical power? According to the statistics, she should be gung-ho for Clinton, but no, she’s stuck on the fence. |
| “Trump has no filter, he might be good or he might get us into a lot of trouble, it’s hard to tell. Clinton is a liar, we don’t know anything about her real character.” | “Trump has no filter, he might be good or he might get us into a lot of trouble, it’s hard to tell. Clinton is a liar, we don’t know anything about her real character.” |
| That’s how it’s looking to a Latina in the idealistic flush of youth barely a month away from exercising the power of her vote for the first time. There’s clearly still a lot at play among the boricuas of central Florida. | That’s how it’s looking to a Latina in the idealistic flush of youth barely a month away from exercising the power of her vote for the first time. There’s clearly still a lot at play among the boricuas of central Florida. |