NEW YORK. Overseas Deputy Cirilo Moronta defended the right of Dominicans living abroad to vote and said lawmakers representing the diaspora serve as a link between those communities and the Dominican government.
Moronta argued that, without the work of overseas representatives, President Luis Abinader would not have direct knowledge of many of the problems affecting Dominicans living in the United States.
Regarding the proposal to eliminate voting abroad because of low electoral participation, the lawmaker called the idea “crazy” and defended the right of Dominicans living outside the country to participate in elections.
Moronta acknowledged that voter abstention is high among Dominicans in New York, but noted that low participation also occurs in the Dominican Republic. He argued that the response should focus on encouraging greater participation rather than eliminating the diaspora’s voting rights.
The lawmaker proposed initiatives aimed at encouraging Dominicans living abroad to go to the polls and participate actively in electoral processes.
