Recent surge in registration among voters of color holds potential to transform election

By Lori Lee
NDG Contributing Writer

The number of registered voters of color has grown to reach about a third of those eligible to vote. This growing block, expected to be pivotal in swing states this November, means more power for minority communities.

Since Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee, one can sense a growing excitement among these communities. If elected, Harris will not only be the first female president, but also the first president with Asian roots, and only the second African American to occupy the high office.

Though the past four years had shown only moderate growth in Black adult registrations, reaching 14% of the electorate, after Harris became the nominee, Black registrations suddenly shot up by 85% in battleground states. The increase was even more pronounced among Black women, at 98%, and young Black females, reaching 175%. This, according to the Independent, citing data from Target Smart.

Voter enthusiasm has shifted, especially among women, young voters, and voters of color, who are expected to vote at dramatically increased rates compared to 2020, the Independent reported.

Growth among registered Asian American, Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities is even higher and the fastest growing voting block, according to Pew Research. This segment alone could constitute the margin of victory in some battleground states if they can manage to get out their vote.

Yet despite this growth, voters of color remain less likely than Whites to vote. According to a recent study by the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the University of Southern California, despite 35% population growth for Asian Americans, 23% for Latinos, and 6% for Blacks, these groups continue to be underrepresented at the polls. Though they combine to form 30% of those eligible to participate, voters of color as a group cast only 22% of all votes in 2020, according to the study. This, compared to White Americans, who voted 43% of the time in recent elections, according to Pew Research Center.

If the goal is to have all segments of society represented equally, voters of color should be voicing their opinions more often.

With over half of Black adults living in the south, Texas is followed by Georgia and Florida as having the largest number of Black eligible voters, Pew Research reported. This may be one reason Senate Democrats recently shifted millions in funding to Texas for Rep. Colin Allred’s senate campaign, after polls showed him in a dead heat with Senator Ted Cruz, The Texas Tribune reported. Other states with high proportions of Black voters include Mississippi at a mighty 37%, Maryland at 33%, and Louisiana at 32%.

The growth of registered voters of color proves that American politics can evolve very quickly. After Georgia was able to turn out their Black vote in 2020, the formerly red state has now grown a vivid shade of purple, voting narrowly for Biden and after two runoffs, handing the Senate majority to Democrats in the last general election.

Following Stacy Abrams’ struggle against voter suppression in Georgia during her 2018 gubernatorial race, several grassroots organizations worked together to help register over a million new voters in Georgia, raising active registered voters to 98% in 2020 from 78% of those eligible in 2016, PBS reported. The state now issues automatic registration when eligible voters get their driver’s license.

Black eligible adults now make up a big piece of the voting population in Georgia, at 33%, while AAPI and Hispanic voters also saw bold increases to around 10% in 2020.
Early polling suggests Harris’ presence on the ticket has reduced the recent trend of Hispanic voters drifting to the Republican ticket, the National Catholic Register reported, Harris resonating with 55% of Hispanics, an improvement over Biden’s recent numbers among this group.

There is an excitement generated when a person is nominated who has roots in India or Southern Asia, Founder and Chairman of AAPI Victory Shekar Narasimhan said in a September 9 Ethnic Media Services briefing. This excitement has meant more participation in political meetings and more volunteers getting involved.

Narasimhan’s organization seeks out newly eligible voters and talks to them about civic engagement. Though the AAPI community is among the most active on social media and remain open to engaging with politicians, the audience is not being targeted, said Narasimhan.

Yet, a number of organizations are working to mobilize the AAPI vote. After doubling the Asian American vote in Pennsylvania, Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance (APA) has plans to knock on 500,000 doors, make five million phone calls, and send a million pieces of mail in 22 languages, said Mohan Seshadri, its executive director.

“We’re gonna be on the doors and on the phones and in people’s mailboxes about the election until the election is done,” said Seshadri.

AAPI voters represent the margin of victory in Pennsylvania, a state that has been described as the battleground of battlegrounds, added Narasimhan. Seven states will be likely to determine the outcome of the presidential race, these including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Candidates would be wise to find inroads in places like Michigan, which has been seeing AAPI relocations due to AI and the transformation of the auto industry to electric.

AAPI voters will also be critical in suburban Atlanta, Las Vegas and the Research Triangle in North Carolina, added Philippines Associate Professor of History, James Zasadiaz.

According to Pew Research Center data, about 75% of AAPI voters born in the U.S. vote or lean Democrat, compared to 56% of foreign-born Asian registered voters. There was a turning point in the 90s, when Al Gore received the majority of Asian American votes after increasing outreach and his policies on immigration, explained Zasadiaz. The community also noticed when Bill Clinton appointed more Asian Americans to his administration and to the courts, he said.

Recent focus groups even show young Vietnamese American voters, a group that is typically more conservative, now strongly favor Harris, though some are holding back due to the situation in Gaza, explained Dr. Tung Nguyen, President of the Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT). The Vietnamese, who historically associated Republicans with anti-communism, have grown less enthusiastic about the Republican Party following the insurrection, said Nguyen. These voters are now seeking out candidates who will truly look out for their interests, he said.

If some Asian Republicans are not thrilled with their Presidential options, added Zasadiaz, they may decide to vote for Harris and Walz in the top races, but that doesn’t mean they will ditch other Republican candidates down-ballot. Historically, these voters have split their tickets, a trend that is expected to continue.

The deadline to register to vote in Dallas County is Oct. 7, 2024. Texas residents can register by mail by printing a voter registration form, filling it out and mailing it to their local election office. The form can be found at https://vrapp.sos.state.tx.us/index.asp. They can also register to vote in person if they prefer.