Tomorrow is election day. It’s the last push to the polls in an election that could be a turning point for Floridians and all Americans. Eva Nolasco, an endo-technician at a Southwest Florida hospital, knows this well because she’s been working as a member political organizer with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East for months to help get out the LatinX vote.

“The Latino vote is important,” said Nolasco. “It’s a huge voting block so we have to reach these voters to make sure they know that Joe Biden supports issues they care about such as healthcare and keeping families together.”

Hispanics will play a key role in this election. According to Pew Research Center, nearly 2.5 million Latinos are registered to vote in Florida in 2020. Nolasco is quick to point out that Hispanics are not a monolith. Like everyone else, they care about a variety of issues including good paying jobs, healthcare and protecting the environment.

”Climate change is a threat to everyone regardless of who you are or where you live,” said Nolasco. “Trump has rolled back environmental protections that Obama put in place. He has to go.”

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues the next president will have to face. From California wildfires to red algae in Florida, it’s clear that climate change is real and must be addressed.

“Red algae was so bad in Florida earlier this year,” recalled Nolasco who has four children. “I worry about my kids. I live close to the water. In my area, you could smell it.”

Joe Biden believes in clean energy and environmental justice. His environmental plan includes a 1.7 trillion-dollar investment that will create millions of jobs. Biden will also hold polluters accountable, particularly companies that dump their waste in low income communities and communities of color.

Climate change isn’t the only crisis the next president will have to address. The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on all Americans. As a healthcare worker, Nolasco has seen firsthand how COVID-19 has impacted patients and her community. She says short staffing has exacerbated an already difficult situation.

“Before COVID-19, three staff in my department left so we were already short staffed before the pandemic. There have been a few new hires but they keep leaving because the work is so demanding. As a result, we rarely get time off.”

Nolasco tells her colleagues the problems they face at work could be addressed by elected officials because the state legislature has the power to set safe staffing levels. Nolasco often tries to make the connection between work related issues and politics because it helps people understand why they need to vote.

“People who don’t want to vote, I tell them when you don’t vote it’s a vote for the other person,” explained Nolasco.

She also tells voters that we need to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris because they will fight for racial justice and work to expand access to quality, affordable healthcare, raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour and other policies that uplift working families. Nolasco believes this is our roadmap to building an America for All where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential. That’s why she’s committed to getting out the vote until the polls close on election day.

Polls are open 7am to 7pm. For polling locations and other voter information go to seiuflorida.vote.