By Louis Chan
AsAmNews National Correspondent
What’s up Asian America?
You’ve probably heard the stereotype. Asian Americans are passive. Asian Americans are quiet. Asian Americans are pushovers.
When it comes to the ballot box, too many Asian Americans are falling into that stereotype. Yes, they are being quiet, passive and non-aggressive by giving up their voice–their power to vote and make change.
A new study out from the nonpartisan California Civic Engagement Project at UC Davis found that voting among Asian Americans in the primary was flat at 7 percent. That’s about the same as 2012.
This despite the fact that Asian Americans are the fastest growing ethnic group in the country and that the concentration of Asian Americans in California is the highest in the lower 48 states.
Compare that to Latino and young voters who have also been underrepresented at the polls. More than one in five casting ballots in California were Latinos. That’s the highest percentage since UC Davis started keeping track 12 years ago. More than 7.5 percent of the ballots cast were from young voters ages 18 – 24. That’s also the highest in 12 years.
So what’s up Asian America? Why aren’t you getting out there to vote.?
Asian Americans are so engaged on social media, but that engagement is not translating to the ballot box. Listen to musician and songwriter AJ Rafael about why that has to change. Don’t be a stereotype.
Register to vote today.
Check out this message from our friends at Fresh Off the Boat.
Fresh Off The Boat Get-Out-And-Vote PSA from Ahmad Khan on Vimeo.
Register to vote today. Here are some important deadlines:
Friday, October 14th
New York
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Saturday, October 15th
Delaware
Monday, October 17th
Virginia
Tuesday, October 18th
Kansas
Maine (deadline by mail, in-person registration available until 11/8)
Maryland (deadline by mail or online, in-person registration until 11/3)
Minnesota (deadline by mail or online, in-person registration until 11/8)
Nevada
New Jersey
Oregon
West Virginia
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