Registrar Worker Gets Two Votes of Approval

A long-time employee from the Registrar of Voters Office has been recognized with not one but two honors just 10 days apart. Outreach Coordinator Carmen Lopez was named one of 16 Women of the Year by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez at an awards ceremony last Friday. She will also be honored with the Visionary Award Monday, March 30 at the 17th Annual Cesar Chavez Community Breakfast.

As a Woman of the Year, Lopez was recognized for her civic engagement. While Lopez does volunteer work in her off hours, she says her work in educating voters in the Spanish-speaking community probably played the bigger role.

“It’s totally different in other countries: no voting by mail, no provisional voting,” said Lopez. “Immigrants come to this country for opportunities and democracy. Are we really taking advantage of this democracy and giving back to the community?”

Lopez goes on to say that it’s a privilege to vote and also a responsibility, a way of giving back to the country.

During elections, Lopez is often seen on Spanish-language TV stations explaining the voting process. She also translates Registrar of Voters news releases into Spanish. She runs outreach booths to help people register to vote and tells prospective voters that election materials are available in a number of different languages.

But recognition as a Woman of the Year?

“A total surprise for me,” said Lopez.

“It doesn’t come as any surprise to me that Carmen has been honored in this way,” said Registrar of Voters Michael Vu. “She consistently goes out of her way to educate everyone, especially those in the Spanish-speaking population, all about the voting process and how it works.” 

Carmen Lopez (left) stands with Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzales with her Woman of the Year award.

On the same day as the Women of the Year ceremony, Lopez learned she was going to be a recipient of the annual Visionary Award from the San Diego Cesar E. Chavez Commemoration Committee. The award is given to a community member who goes above and beyond for social justice. It honors people who in a personal or professional capacity demonstrate the same values as Chavez when it comes to hard work, helping others and making a difference in their community. 

Specifically, Lopez is being recognized for her work in helping to create a more diverse electorate no matter what the language and helping get the vote out for natural-born Americans and new Americans. 

Lopez says she just helps voters connect the dots when it comes to the voting process. But that’s made her a winner, not just once, but twice.