Election a test of efforts to get more minorities to the polls

Election a test of efforts to get more minorities to the polls

By Maria Papadopoulos, Enterprise staff writer

For the past several weeks, Amelia Montrond has been working to get members of the minority community in Brockton to vote.

The native of Cape Verde is focusing on getting her immediate family members to the polls.

"My husband's not planning to vote," Montrond, 40, said Monday. "I have to bring him. My uncle's undecided. My aunt's undecided. I told them they have to go."

Montrond has taken it upon herself to boost voter turnout, which, in past elections in Brockton, has been low among the city's minority populations.

In September's preliminary election, 15 percent of registered voters went to the polls.

The lowest turnout in Brockton was in Precinct 2A, which is bordered by North Main Street on the west, Oakdale Street on the east, Spring Street to the south, and West Ashland Street to the north.

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Montrond, who is campaigning for Jass Stewart, the city's first black mayoral candidate, said minorities don't vote because they don't identify with candidates.

"Usually, their response is 'they don't do anything for me,' " Montrond said.

"Nobody I vote for got elected anyway," said Nicole Molin, 51, a native of Haiti who also counted language as a main barrier for minority voters.

Others directed responsibility on low turnout to city leaders and candidates who are not reaching out to the minority community.

More:
http://enterprise.southofboston.com/articles/2005/11/08/news/news/news05.txt

and MA really need a more diverse representation.