Alonso Palomares, Phoenix, AZ

Alonso Palomares of Phoenix, Arizona is one of our country’s newest citizens and one of the many new voters who will practice the civic right to vote for the first time this November. Alonso is grateful for his citizenship and knows how important his voice is to our democracy. Like many other new voters, Alonso is not only planning to vote but is encouraging his peers to register and execute their right as well.

For Alonso, repairing our broken economy is the number one priority. He is worried about job security and about the horrible rates of unemployment in his city.

“People in my community are poor, and many are unemployed," says Alonso. “We are having a hard time buying groceries, there are many families here in Phoenix who are scared about the economy and about the crime rates and violence they hear about every day.” Alonso has been a volunteer in his community for years, long before he became a United States citizen, but to him there has never been a more important time to get involved than now.

“It makes me happy to help my community, and I want more of my family and friends to realize that we can help our country by being part of the solution.” New voter Alonso Palomares is confident that he and others like him can change their world to make it work for every American, whether they have been a citizen for a few days, weeks, or years.

“We can change our government for the better,” says Alonso, “and work together to make an America where all of us, new citizens and old, can feel included and appreciated.”

For more information on this story, please call (202)518-6186.