Sarah Poontong, 49, became a U.S. citizen late last year and quickly registered to vote, reflecting a notable trend. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander voter registration surged by 43% from January to June 2024, according to APIAVote and TargetSmart. This growth outpaces that of other racial groups.The increase is driven by a rise in naturalized immigrants, young Asian Americans reaching voting age, and intensified get-out-the-vote efforts. Between 1960 and 2019, U.S. immigration from Asia grew 29-fold, and Asian immigrants are more likely to become naturalized. Since 2020, this group has become the fastest-growing segment of eligible voters.

How significant is your vote?

Poontong, who felt her vote was insignificant until she saw the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, decided to vote for the first time in the primaries. “I realized just how important it is to vote in your local elections and the presidential election,” she said.

Christine Chen of APIAVote attributes the surge to a larger voting-age population, increased political activism, and efforts against anti-Asian hate. This engagement was pivotal in states like Georgia during the 2020 election.

From January to June 2024, registration for this group rose from 550,682 to 787,982, more than doubling the increase seen in new Black and white voters.

More examples of young-gen voters

Karthick Ramakrishnan of AAPI Data highlights that naturalized citizens, who make up the majority of eligible Asian American voters, are more likely to register. Improved voter registration processes and heightened political interest, partly due to Donald Trump’s polarizing influence, also contribute to this trend.

Poontong plans to vote in November, prioritizing reproductive rights. Ramakrishnan expects Vice President Kamala Harris’s candidacy to further boost Asian American voter registration and engagement.

FAQs:

Are immigrant voters increasing in the United States?
This year’s US Presidential Election 2024 has shown a significant rise in the number of voters who are naturalized immigrants, as per data.

Is the younger generation voters count significant in the US polls 2024?
The US polls 2024 will certainly have a major portion of voters who will be in the younger age group this time, making it a very interesting fight this time around.

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