My name is Neda Bolourchi and I was born in Tehran, Iran. I am currently a third year law student studying to be a civil rights attorney. I am the Founder and Executive Director of http://www.FarsiVoter.com where I have created the only comprehensive and definitive website dedicated solely to educating and empowering Iranian-Americans and all other Farsi speaking voters in California about current elections and voting. As an Election Inspector I saw first hand the dismal turnout of registered Iranian-Americans at the polling places and I wanted to do something about it. I submitted a proposal to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office and I was able to persuade them to have their online Sample Ballot Booklets translated into Farsi. Having election materials in Farsi can help to empower our community to take a more active role in the electoral process and to carry out their civic duty as citizens. The website provides you with the latest Ballot Measures in upcoming elections, election terminology, recommended election books, a Survey to better serve the community, a video prepared in Farsi to teach you how to fill out your Los Angeles County Voter Registration Form.
My goal for the future is to create a platform on my website, for any Iranian-American candidate running for any federal, state or local elections to share their bio and the issues they care about on the website so that all Farsi speaking voters can become more familiar with the candidates that will be representing them.
I am also in the process of creating a Student Legal Aid program which will also provide Mediation classes and services to the Long Beach and surrounding communities at my law school.