Don’t be afraid to vote: LULAC, Ventura County community groups to spotlight Latino voters casting ballots the right way

Latino voters in Oxnard heard a direct message from county officials Monday morning: your ballot is protected, and you should not be afraid to use it.

At a news conference Monday, Oct. 26, at 10:30 a.m. at Plaza Park, 500 South C Street in downtown Oxnard, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) joined nonpartisan Ventura County community organizations to highlight efforts helping eligible citizens vote early, securely and correctly in the Nov. 3 general election, the Vida Newspaper reported.

The event took on added weight because of its timing. Recent federal claims questioning California's voter rolls have cast uncertainty over Latino voters and the organizations that serve them, according to the report. Speakers — including elected officials and community leaders — described what they see happening on the ground: eligible citizens voting, volunteers translating official materials and families using a verified, established process.

'Your vote is private, and we will protect your rights'

The most direct reassurance came from Michelle Ascencion, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, who oversees the county's elections.

"We have in place a system of protection, your vote is private and we will protect your rights, don't be afraid to vote," Ascencion said, according to Vida Newspaper. County election officials at the event also explained how Ventura County verifies and protects ballots once they are cast.

Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez echoed that message, framing voting as both a right and a responsibility for the community.

"We need to exercise the right to vote, our community needs protection and we are doing everything under our power to provide that protection, don't be afraid to vote," Lopez said.

The tone turned personal with Jess Ramirez, an Oxnard Harbor Commissioner and veteran, who drew a line between his military service and his civic duty at the ballot box.

"As a veteran I defended this country with bullets, now I defend this country not with bullets but with a democracy and with our vote," Ramirez said.

The message was delivered in more than one language. The press conference was conducted in English and Spanish, with Mixteco interpretation also available — a significant detail in Oxnard, home to one of the largest Indigenous Mexican communities in California. Interpretation reflects an ongoing effort in Ventura County to make civic information accessible to residents who speak Mixteco, Zapoteco and other Indigenous languages, not just Spanish.

Why Oxnard, and why now

Oxnard is Ventura County's largest city and its Latino population makes it a natural focal point for voter-mobilization efforts. But organizers said Monday's event was about countering fear, not turning out votes for any candidate — the participating groups are nonpartisan.

The Oxnard gathering was part of a broader, statewide push. Similar press conferences were being organized by LULAC throughout California to raise awareness about the importance of voting, and of not being intimidated away from it, in this election and future ones, according to Vida Newspaper.

The backdrop is a charged national conversation about voter-roll integrity. When federal officials question the legitimacy of state voter rolls, advocates worry the effect trickles down to communities already underserved by civic institutions — leading some eligible voters to stay home out of confusion or fear that voting could expose them to scrutiny. Monday's speakers sought to counter that directly, with the county's top election official vouching for the system's safeguards in person.

LULAC itself brings nearly a century of credibility to the effort. Founded in 1929, it is the nation's oldest Latino civil rights organization, advancing the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs. The LULAC Institute is also a member of the 2026 Latino Civic Engagement Coalition, a nonpartisan partnership with UnidosUS, Mi Familia en Acción and the Latino Victory Foundation focused on voter education, registration assistance and trusted community messengers.

When and where to vote in Ventura County

For Oxnard residents ready to cast a ballot, the county has opened voting centers for early voting now. Hours and dates announced at the event:

• Early voting: Ventura County voting centers are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Monday, Nov. 2.
• Election Day: Voting centers will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Voters can visit any county voting center rather than a single assigned polling place, and residents with questions about their registration or ballot status can contact the Ventura County Elections Division, which the Clerk-Recorder's office oversees.

What comes next

For organizers, the Plaza Park event was less a one-off rally than the visible piece of ongoing work: trained volunteers translating official election materials, community groups walking families through the voting process, and election officials explaining — in three languages — how ballots are verified and protected.

The stakes extend beyond Nov. 3. LULAC's statewide campaign is aimed at building durable civic participation in Latino communities, not just a single turnout cycle. In a county where Latinos make up a large share of the electorate — and in a city like Oxnard where local races for City Council, school boards and harbor matters are often decided by narrow margins — whether eligible voters feel confident showing up matters to the outcomes that shape daily life.

Monday's message, repeated in English, Spanish and Mixteco, was simple: the process is verified, the ballots are protected, and, in the words of the county's top election official, don't be afraid to vote.