Activists have predicted that turnout for the more than 200 events planned for tomorrow, from Seattle to Miami, will be far less than in years past.

But they say efforts to demand comprehensive immigration legislation - including pathways to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States - have extended beyond the streets.

"While the breadth of activities will be significant, most eyes are turned toward the November election," said Rich Stolz, a coordinator with the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, which oversees activist groups across the country. "We've been calling on the candidates to prioritize immigration."

The scope of the pro-immigrant-rights movement has seen significant change in the last two years.

More than a million people nationwide marched to demand immigrant rights in 2006. Fueled by a blitz of support from churches and Spanish-language media, many united to fight a bill that proposed making it a felony for all illegal immigrants to live in the United States.

With no single piece of legislation to rally around in 2007, numbers shrank and the message branched off.

Marchers demanded an end to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, respect for the undocumented, and worker unity, among other things.

Efforts in Los Angeles quickly went sour when police cleared MacArthur Park by striking protesters and journalists with batons and firing "nonlethal" projectiles.

Organizers say this year's efforts are focused less on protests and more on voter registration and setting an agenda for the next president. At least two major national organizations that traditionally have rallied large numbers of immigrants on May 1 - the National Council of La Raza and the Service Employees International Union - have purposely put less energy into the marches.

"In 2006 we said: 'Today we march. Tomorrow we vote.' This is tomorrow," said Eliseo Medina, executive vice president of the SEIU. "Mass mobilizations ensure that people go to the polls. There's this whole culture of participation that's been created in the community."

Still, activists acknowledge an uphill battle.

Immigration reform has not resonated with voters in primary elections, who overwhelmingly have cited the economy as their top concern. Immigration legislation has stalled and been defeated in the Senate. Presidential candidates have not extensively addressed the contentious issue.