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By Rio Grande Guardian Staff
EDINBURG, Texas — Seeking to close a persistent “participation gap” across the Rio Grande Valley, nonpartisan civic engagement organization AACT (Advocacy Alliance Center of Texas) Now is aiming to boost voter turnout in Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr, and Willacy counties to between 55% and 60% by the 2026 midterms.
Addressing local leaders and stakeholders at a recent meeting of the Prosperity Task Force, Norma Flores Ruiz, executive director of AACT Now, emphasized that civic engagement is intrinsically linked to the region’s broader economic and social development goals.
“Public decisions at the local, state, and federal levels affect many of the priorities this task force works on every single day,” Flores Ruiz said. “When South Texas participates, our region has a stronger and more visible voice in these decisions.”
Addressing the 2024 Turnout Gap
According to figures highlighted by AACT Now, turnout across the four-county RGV region hovered at 48.5% in 2024—meaning roughly half of registered voters did not cast a ballot. Flores Ruiz cautioned against viewing the low turnout as a reflection of community apathy, citing systemic barriers that frequently impact working families.
“This is not a criticism of our community,” Flores Ruiz noted. “Participation can be affected by work schedules, transportation, limited access to reliable information, and many other pressures on families… These numbers show us where trusted community partnerships can make a big difference.”
To bridge the gap, AACT Now is deploying targeted grassroots initiatives designed to leverage existing networks within businesses, schools, healthcare organizations, and local government.
Grassroots Mobilization: Touch 10 and Ambassadors
A core component of AACT Now’s strategy is the Touch 10 initiative—a digital and physical outreach campaign encouraging individuals to connect with ten people in their personal and professional networks to discuss voting plans.
“Every single personal conversation with ten people can create 3,000 direct contacts across our region,” Flores Ruiz explained, urging civic leaders to utilize digital QR codes and physical materials to expand their reach.
Additionally, the organization is rolling out an Ambassador Program, where participating institutions designate a point person to share nonpartisan voter registration resources, election dates, and guides through workplace newsletters, staff meetings, and community events.
AACT Now is encouraging local partners to engage through three distinct pathways:
- Civic Commitment: Serving as an ambassador and taking the Touch 10 challenge.
- Volunteer Power: Completing training to become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDR) to directly register voters.
- Community & Resource Support: Distributing nonpartisan outreach materials and hosting informational sessions.
Nonpartisan Approach
Flores Ruiz underscored that AACT Now strictly refrains from endorsing candidates, political parties, or specific ballot issues.
“We provide the same accurate information to every eligible voter, and we never advocate for a candidate, a party, or a political position,” Flores Ruiz stated. “We don’t push candidates, we don’t push certain topics or policies—we just care that our community is getting out the vote and participating.”
With voter registration and early voting deadlines approaching for upcoming election cycles, AACT Now is urging Valley residents to verify their voter registration status, prepare a personalized voting plan, and lead civic discussions within their circles of influence.
Dayna Reyes writes:
AACT NOW will officially launch its “Rally the Vote” initiative and introduce a growing network of community partners working to expand access to accurate, nonpartisan voter information across the Rio Grande Valley. The event takes place at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg at 10:30 a.m. on October 1. The event is expected to bring together leaders and organizations from across the region and highlight AACT NOW’s community-driven approach to voter education, civic engagement, and access to trusted election resources. Those leaders and community partners will represent business, healthcare, education, media, local government, nonprofit, and community organizations from across the Rio Grande Valley.
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