An activist group is targeting wards in Southeast Wisconsin with low voter turnout. It's the young people front and center in the "Democracy Summer". Melanie Benesh, Youth Organizer for Voces De La Frontera , says dozens of teens are making sure eligible Latino voters are registered. The youths are canvassing churches, other youth groups and their friends to get the maximum amount of voter participation. Some volunteers are as young as 14, meaning they aren't allowed to cast ballots themselves for a few years.
Benech says young people have energy that's contagious by "injecting excitement and enthusiasm" about the democratic process. The high amount of student involvement reflects a nationwide trend. Voces claims 50% of Latino voters in the Presidential primaries were aged 18-29.
The Democracy Summer's next bi-weekly stop is in Kenosha on Saturday, followed by Racine and Milwaukee next month.
