APIA’s: We ARE the Voice of Change

You’ve probably heard it before: Asian Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing group in America. But this statistic has a lot of implications, especially during an election year. With everything that has happened in the past seven months, it’s outlandish to sit this one out. Our vote is not only important to make change, but also more people are realizing our vote is critical, as the fastest growing minority group in the United States and a growing share of the electorate. We are living in unprecedented times and it’s time to show America that the APIA vote can and will be the deciding factor.

There’s no excuse not to vote with all of the options in Nevada this year. Not only will registered voters automatically receive a mail-in ballot, but residents can also vote during early voting period and on election day. With the passing of Assembly Bill 4, Nevadan legislators have made combating voter suppression a priority. So whatever you decide to do; mail-in, drop off or in-person, it’s important to get out there and ensure that your ballot is cast.

It’s also important to remember that our ancestors fought for this right and giving up a vote diminishes their fight to help our community become equal members of American society. Although the right to vote for all U.S. citizens is now codified in the Constitution, it is important for voters to recognize that many of our ancestors fought to be able to make their voices heard through the vote.The Asian Pacific Islander vote has not even been recognized for a full century, with Chinese immigrants receiving the right in 1943 and other Asian Americans in 1952. While this silent protest may seem like a simple checkmark on a piece of paper, it signifies way more than that. It represents the voices of our ancestors who did not have this right, as well as the hundreds of thousands of people who are still waiting in line to get their chance at voting.

There is absolutely a sense of gravity that comes with voting. It is the bare minimum we can do as citizens to transform our communities and help the working families. It is absolutely a myth to think that your opinion could not be the determining vote. Even in this year’s primary, some of the state Assembly and Senate members in Nevada districts won by less than 200 votes!

Above all, our APIA members should vote to show that we are a significant sector of the American demographic. Much too often, we are left out of the political conversation. We are the least contacted group from both sides of the political spectrum or even non-partisan political organizations. Enough is enough. It’s time to show America that we are a force to be reckoned with. Our voting block accounts for more than 11 million people. Imagine if every single one of this over 11 million people group voted. We would no longer be ignored, neglected and disregarded.