Asian Americans are much more enthusiastic about voting in 2016

Advancing Justice | AAJC produces new resource to educate 9.3 million eligible voters
For Immediate Release
Contact
Michelle Boykins (202) 296-2300, ext. 0144 mboykins@advancingjustice-aajc.org

Asian Americans are much more enthusiastic about voting in 2016

Advancing Justice | AAJC Produces New Resource to Educate 9.3 Million Eligible Voters

Washington, DC – At a time where fifty-one percent of Asian Americans are more enthusiastic about voting, there are more than 9.3 million eligible Asian American voters who need information to help decide which candidate to choose.  Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC released today a new resource, the 2016 Presidential Election Voter Guide: A Resource for the Asian American Electorate, at the 2016 Asian American Journalists Association Convention on the same day it joins a coalition of partners hosting a presidential election forum.

The 2016 Presidential Election Voter Guide increases the understanding of the growing Asian American electorate and issues of particular importance to Asian American voters. By 2060 it is projected that one out of every ten Americans will be Asian American. Given this significant growth, it is important to note that Asian Americans continue to be overlooked largely by the political parties. 

“Enthusiasm about voting may be increasing, but our recent survey of Asian American voters show that 73% had not been contacted by the Republican Party and 62% had not been contacted by the Democratic Party,” said Mee Moua, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC.  “These figures should be disturbing because it means that political candidates at the national, state, and local levels are missing untapped voter potential and Asian Americans are not getting our voices heard on much-needed issues.”

The 2016 Presidential Election Voter Guide features several sections to help educate Asian American voters as the election is less than one hundred days away.  There is a side-by-side comparison snapshot on where the presidential candidates’ stand on several key issues.  A more substantial section includes the candidate stances in their words about issues important to Asian Americans such as civil liberties, educational equity, immigration, and voting rights.  The final section of the online document features a state-by-state breakdown of the information voters need to know to register in their state.

The online version is available for download here.

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