Alliance for a Better Community (ABC) Launches Somos el Voto, a 501(c)(4) in Los Angeles County Solely Focused on Increasing Latina/o Voter Turnout
New Action Fund Aims to Increase Voter Participation and Build a Strong Base of Latina/o Voters Across LA County
Los Angeles County, CA — ABC announces the launch of Somos el Voto: Alliance for a Better Community Action Fund, a new 501(c)(4) organization informed by years of ABC’s own Integrated Voter Engagement (IVE) work and dedicated to increasing Latina/o voter participation.
“More than ever, Latinas/os can and must be more active in building structures that govern their lives,” said Audrey Diaz Dow, Founding Somos el Voto Board Member.
Latina/o voters account for nearly one-third of all eligible voters in California and represent the largest share of voters ages 18–24. In Los Angeles County alone, Latina/o’s made up about 38% of registered voters. Record numbers are showing up at the polls, demonstrating the engagement and power of our communities.
Yet there remains untapped potential due to barriers such as lack of investment in Latina/o outreach, misinformation, growing mistrust in civic institutions, and apathy, among other factors. Somos el Voto was created to close this gap by calling for dedicated investments for diverse Latina/o voters through culturally competent, multilingual, community-rooted voter engagement strategies.
Somos el Voto kicked off this work by contacting “High Opportunity” Latina/o voters to support California’s Proposition 50 initiative last November. During a four week period, and working with partner organizations across LA County regions (SELA, East San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and the Antelope Valley), this inaugural program knocked on nearly 35,000 doors and identified just under 14,000 supporters. Prop 50 passed with 64% of the vote.
“Democracy is strongest when everyone participates.” said Vanessa Aramayo, Founding Chair of the Somos el Voto Board. “Latina/o voters are decisive to elections and have not yet fully realized their electoral power as a voting block. About 25 percent of registered Latino voters who cast a ballot in 2020 and were still registered in 2024 did not vote in 2024. Somos el Voto exists to increase Latina/o voter turnout – punto. By engaging partner organizations, coordinating integrated voter outreach efforts, and tailoring messaging to diverse Latina/o voters, Somos el Voto will create the infrastructure needed to turn participation into lasting civic power.”
Somos el Voto builds on ABC’s more than 25 years of advancing equity and justice in Latina/o communities across education, economic mobility, health, and civic engagement. ABC’s longstanding regional partnerships, bilingual staff, and deep community credibility position the action fund to scale authentic voter engagement strategies countywide.
“Latina/o voters hold immense power,” Aramayo added. “When approached with trust, values aligned messages, and culturally grounded strategies, they engage. Somos el Voto is about turning that participation into sustained civic power.”
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About Somos el Voto: Alliance for a Better Community Action Fund
Somos el Voto is a 501(c)(4) affiliate of Alliance for a Better Community dedicated to expanding Latina/o voter participation and building long-term civic power across Los Angeles County. Through culturally competent, multilingual, and community-rooted engagement strategies, Somos el Voto works to ensure Latina/o communities are fully represented in civic decision-making. Learn more www.somoselvoto.org