East West Bank became the first bank in the state this month to partner with California Secretary of State Alex Padilla in his effort to register more voters for the November general election.
Padilla joined Emily Wang, director of marketing and community development at East West Bank, at the bank’s corporate office in Pasadena to announce the partnership.
“The Democracy at Work program is an initiative of the Secretary of State of California that works with employers—both public employers and private employers—to work together to get the word out to their employees, to their customers and their members about voter registration and the importance of voting,” said Secretary Padilla, noting that organizations such as Starbucks and the Los Angeles Dodgers have also joined the effort.
Of the 7 million Californians who are eligible to register to vote, Padilla noted, a disproportionate number are Latino and Asian-American.
“In some cases it’s a cultural issue, in some cases it’s a language access issue,” Padilla said, adding that as the son of immigrants he did not have a tradition of voting while growing up.
Padilla expressed his belief that community partnerships, like the one with East West Bank, can help Californians overcome hurdles to register to vote.
“East West Bank, I thank them tremendously. They were one of the first businesses and the first bank to say ‘yes’ to our call, to say ‘let’s work together to make sure that your employees and your customers have the information they need to register to vote and to be informed voters,’” Padilla said.
California residents have until October 24 to register to participate in the General Election on November 8.
Padilla continued, “Companies like East West Bank have relationships in the community and the trust of the community, [and] can help us deliver that message much more effectively.”
Twenty-two of East West Bank’s branches will participate in the program, including 16 in Southern California and six in Northern California.
According to a press release from the Secretary of State’s office, material such as voter registration forms, voting rights brochures and guides with election deadlines will be provided in English, Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese.
“We’re very happy to partner with the Secretary’s office to push and to promote voter registration,” said Wang, who is also a senior vice president at East West Bank.
Speaking to the importance of voting, she stated, “Being able to vote is really important for democracy; it’s not just our right, it’s also our obligation.”
Padilla highlighted that East West Bank’s many branches throughout California will allow them to disseminate information more broadly.
In San Marino, according to 2010 U.S. Census data, 9,725 San Marinans are of voting age, but only 7,994 were registered to vote when California held its primary elections in June.
That leaves about 1,700 San Marino residents that may be eligible to register to vote for the November general election.
To register to vote, or to update your registration, visit registertovote.ca.gov or pick up a voter registration form from an East West Bank branch in Pasadena, Arcadia, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel or other participating branches.
