How much impact will Asian Americans have on the election?
The segment is the fastest-growing racial group in the country, estimated to make up 10 percent of voters by 2044.
“After the 2012 presidential election, Republicans and Democrats predicted that communities of color, including Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, would be critically important for the future of American elections, with important investments needed in voter education and voter outreach,” said Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), a national nonpartisan organization that works with partners to mobilize Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in electoral and civic participation. “Now, four years later, high levels of voter interest and turnout among communities of color are making good on those predictions.”
APIAVote added in the statement that partisan investments in voter outreach, and efforts from nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations, contributed to the increase of voter interest and turnout. Indeed, the #IAmAsianAmerican campaign was launched a few months ago to encourage Asian American millennials to vote in a variety of ways. That includes 15-second “selfie” PSA videos that have potential voters express who they are and why they are voting. The campaign also launched a one-day national concert in October that took place at four cities – Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago – to try register at least 15,000 voters.
It was a year of progress for Asian American political presence, as members of Congress’ AAPI Caucus spoke together on stage for the first time at the Democratic National Convention in July to support Hillary Clinton and to address the changes facing Asian Americans. “It wasn’t too long ago that if you saw an Asian Pacific American walking in the U.S. Capitol, you had to stop and do a double-take,” Rep. Judy Chu, herself the first Chinese American woman in Congress and leading the speech, said at the DNC. “But how things have changed … We have gone from being marginalized to becoming the margin of victory in key swing states and districts all across our nation.”
Asian Americans Advancing Justice, a national organization dedicated to advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans, and APIAVote have volunteers readily available through a hotline until Election Day to help AAPI voters in eight languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Bengali, Urdu, Hindi and Tagalog. Voters can reach the hotline at 1-888-API-VOTE, or 1-888-274-8683, for voting questions or assistance.
