Immigrant groups mobilize Florida minority voters

MIAMI (AP) – Some door knockers may not be eligible to vote themselves, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying to persuade thousands of others to head to the polls.

Immigrant groups in Miami-Dade and Polk counties said this week they have visited more than 25,000 homes to encourage minority residents to vote next month.

Many of the canvassers were immigrants themselves, some recent arrivals, others in the country illegally and thus unable to vote.  The Florida Immigrant Coalition coordinated the nonpartisan campaign to boost turnout in immigrant and low-income communities.

In 2012, black and Latino voters turned out at the same rate as non-Latino white voters. But participation dropped in 2010. About 41 percent of eligible Latinos and Black voters participated in that election, compared to 46 percent of non-Latino Whites.