COFOA leaders urge participation in elections

Fighting the wave of voter apathy, COFOA leaders – clergy, adults and youth – contacted more than 2000 people in five municipalities and secured pledges to vote in the March 4 elections. They reached out door to door and at religious services. While only 45% of eligible voters turned out for municipal and national elections, COFOA leaders know that participation in elections is crucial to improving life in their communities. It provides leverage they use to secure investments in social services like community policing and in infrastructure improvements like roads and bridges.

The task to build civic participation is challenging because of extreme political polarization and corruption. Right wing parties that blocked investment in public improvements won more seats in the national assembly. Gangs have actively sought to influence municipal elections. We congratulate the COFOA leaders who are prophets, standing in the face of corruption and violence to speak truth about the needs of their families and communities.