In one of the most diverse cities in Connecticut and the nation on Tuesday, Latino residents were lining up to cast votes in a presidential election marked by harsh rhetoric about immigrants.
More than 200 people had registered to vote on Election Day by Tuesday morning in Danbury, including Laura Henriquez, a native of the Dominican Republican who became a citizen last year. She said that she became a citizen, in part, so that she could cast her vote in the presidential race.
“Both candidates are no good, but I voted for Clinton because she has more experience and would make a better president,” she said.
Latino turnout surged in early voting across the country, and in Danbury, Latino leaders were enthusiastic.
“Latino voters are turning out in very large numbers because we know there is a lot at stake during this election,” said Carolina Bortolleto, an organizer of the event and founder of Connecticut Students for a DREAM. “This election has shown how there is still a large anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States and our community it reacting to that. We want to stop the hate.”
Christopher Kukk, a professor of political science at Western Connecticut State University University, said immigrants don’t take their votes for granted. “They have a voice for sometimes the first time.”
Kukk added that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has pushed many Latinos ……
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