Voter sign-up takes aim at new citizens, low-income groups

Paulo Nunes remembers that day in June when he was sworn in as a US citizen.

"I left with the feeling that I truly am part of this country now," he said.

Nunes, a Framingham resident originally from Brazil, is one of several first-time voters who attends a church that is part of MetroWest Interfaith Congregations Acting for Hope. The interfaith group is holding a voter registration drive on Sunday at St. Tarcisius Church in Framingham to increase participation among immigrant and low-income communities in the November election.

The nonprofit coalition, founded in 2004 by area Unitarian Universalist, Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish congregations, addresses social issues related to healthcare, housing, and education. Several congregations from the group are involved with the voter-registration drive.

"The basic idea is to get people involved in the community, not just voting but also paying attention to schools and health centers and traffic and police, and all the things that matter to people that government does," said Michael Jacoby Brown, a community organizer with the interfaith group.

Nunes said he has always believed in the power of the vote to effect change.

"I am very excited about the possibility of participating in that process," said Nunes, adding that he plans to vote for the Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama.

Pushing people to vote is something churches and other religious entities have done informally, but this is the first time the interfaith group has organized a registration drive. The group says it is not trying to tell people how to vote, or impose any religious values.

"We would like to demonstrate how people of different religions can work together," said Rob Woods, cochairman of the group and a member of Congregation Beth El in Sudbury.

The Rev. Joe Pranzo, whose congregation at St. Tarcisius is predominantly Brazilian, said religious groups should support efforts like these because voting is a fundamental right.

"This is public service more than a political statement," Pranzo said. "I believe people who are American citizens should be registered to vote . . . especially the Brazilians who live here should be part of the process."

There are many reasons why those who are eligible to vote simply don't do it, according to the Sunday event's organizers. Some might come from other countries and still be unfamiliar with the American political system, or might work too many jobs to find the time to vote.

A review of the turnout in April's townwide election shows how groups vary in their levels of participation. In Precinct 16, in South Framingham, which is populated by many immigrants and lower-income people, only 37 people voted in the election. Meanwhile, 574 people voted in Precinct 1, in the more-affluent northern part of town near Marlborough and Sudbury.

But Marcos Contreras, the other cochairman of the interfaith group and a community organizer at St. Tarcisius, said many immigrants he knows are eager to participate in the political process. Originally from Chile, Contreras became a citizen about 20 years ago, he said.

Between 1,000 and 1,500 parishioners at St. Tarcisius have Brazilian roots, with another 500 or so from other nationalities. Leaders at the Catholic church say they have no way of knowing how many of the immigrant parishioners can vote.

"People are really interested and excited to be able to vote for the first time and make a difference, not only in their communities but in the country," said Contreras.

The voter-registration drive starts at 1 p.m. Sunday at St. Tarcisius Church, 562 Waverly St., Framingham. For more information, call 508-875-8263.