The last presidential election was monumental in many aspects. Not only did Americans elect its first minority president, but it was through young, minority votes that helped realize Barack Obama’s dream. This emerging electorate will have a lasting effect on American politics for years to come.
I think it is very encouraging to see more young people and minorities go to the ballot box. However, my observation has been that the majority of Asian-Americans are still spectators of elections instead of active participants.
A recent census analysis titled “Data Show Significant Increases Among Hispanic, Black and Young Voters” was summarized in The New York Times. It found that while voter turnout in 2008 was about the same as in 2004 (64 percent of voting-age citizens), the makeup of the 131 million who voted changed:
“While the number of non-Hispanic white voters remained roughly the same, 2 million more blacks, 2 million more Latinos and 600,000 more Asians turned out. Compared with 2004, the voting rate for black, Asian and Hispanic voters increased by about four percentage points. The rate for whites declined by one percentage point.”
Just 600,000 more Asian voters turned out in 2008! That’s a drop in the bucket compared to the number of Asian-Americans over 18 years of age in the country.
Come on, we can do better!
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