Record numbers of Asian American groups join voter sign up drive
Voter registration FACEBOOK PHOTO
WASHINGTON, DC – A record number of Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations participated in activities leading up to and during National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) on September 23, the Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) announced.
This year, 317 Asian and Pacific Islander American organizations joined in national voter registration day activities, up from 154 organizations that participated in 2012.
This rate of increase is comparable to the 65 percent growth rate overall in the number of organizations involved in the voter registration day effort (from 1,223 to 2,014 total).
The AAPI Islander populations are among the fastest growing racial groups in the United States, and the same is also true for their voting-eligible population.
In the last four midterm election years, the number of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders registered voters has increased by an average of about 600,000 over the prior cycle, resulting in an increase from about 1.4 million AAPI registered voters in 1994 to 3.9 million in 2010.
Credit for the increased voter participation is partly claimed by APIAVote and its partners and affiliates across the country that educate and register new voters.
“As we gear up for the 2014 midterm elections, we want to highlight our ongoing voter outreach efforts and increase our numbers and influence at the polls, especially on issues relating to the economy, healthcare and national security,” said Christine Chen, executive director of APIAVote.
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