(WMTW 8) "Immigrant Support Groups Make Last Push To Get New Mainers Out to Polls

By: WMTW: “Immigrant Support Groups Make Last Push to Get New Mainers Out to Polls

By: Miles Hood

November 7th, 2022

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PORTLAND, Maine —

As groups push to get people out to the polls those within Maine's immigrant community are making sure they're not being left out.

The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center was out today making sure every single one of those potential voters has a chance to have their voices heard. Going door to door in the Munjoy Hill area handing out registration cards, election info pamphlets, and informing locals of the work the immigrant welcome center does. Volunteers tell us that getting out in the community gives everyone the power of voting.

First-time voters

While the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center works with a wide variety of cultures and peoples. Khmer Maine works specifically with Cambodian immigrants where one mother and her daughter are voting for the first time tomorrow.

Sokoun Ou (or Sok for short) has been in the country for 6 years and became a naturalized citizen this summer. Her daughter Theavy has been a citizen for 20 years. Both of them are from Cambodia and have used Khmer Maine to learn how to vote and Sok says she feels empowered because of it.

"I think that right to vote is privilege. To vote is so important ... With the seminars and other classes, I feel confident to use my voice," Ou said.

Looking Ahead

According to the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, there are 26,000 Mainers who are naturalized citizens and are eligible to vote tomorrow. They're hosting a final event at 10 a.m. at Monument Square to make one final push to get the vote out.