Today, is election day in the United States. If you haven't done so already, go out and vote. It is you are a citizen right, your duty. Your vote matters.
There are almost 17 million AAPI eligible voters in the U.S., and 90% say they plan to vote during midterm elections, according to a survey conducted by AAPI Data.
AAPI voters have the “potential to exceed the margin of victory in these closely contested races,” said Christine Chen, Executive Director of APIAVote. “That only means that we have to increase participation to make sure that we have a meaningful impact on who actually wins.”
In California, voting has been happening for weeks without any incidents. Casting one's ballot has been easy to vote by mail or by secure ballot boxes
However, tthat's not the case everywhere, especially in states controlled by Reppublican administrations. There are barriers and many levels to AAPI voting. Understanding AAPI communities requires considering their diverse immigration histories, languages, socioeconomic circumstances, generations in the U.S. and political experiences.
According to Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and director of AAPI Data, all the signs of voter turnout points to a record-setting year for Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
But there is a difference between the intent to vote and the reality of voting, Ramakrishnan said during an Oct. 16 news briefing held by American Community Media.
In understanding who will vote, he said there’s not a lot of difference in gender, but in age and generation.
“Younger AAPI’s are more likely to favor the Democratic candidate,” Ramakrishnan explained the survey. Youth turnout, in general, not just in the AAPI communities tend to be lower in midterm elections.
In media interviews, Trump has repeatedly stated that "there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting," raising concerns among advocates that entitlement programs could face future trims or structural changes.
RELATED: What AAPI voters are saying about the Midterms“Voter turnout among adults 50-plus, including Asian American and Pacific Islanders, continues to outpace other age groups every election season,” said Daphne Kwok, Vice President of Multicultural Leadership for AAPI Audience Strategy at AARP.
In national surveys conducted by AAPI Data, APIAVote, and AARP, 93% of Asian American voters age 50-plus, the demographic most likely to vote, rated health care access and affordability as an essential election issue followed closely by concern about the future of Social Security under Trump, who has sided with those who want to reduce supporting the social safety net policies.
In August, AARP launched “Protect Voters 50+,” a comprehensive voter engagement campaign to help Americans 50-plus vote safely, whether at home or in-person, provide them with information they need about this year’s elections. In addition, AARP has teamed up with APIAVote, a leading nonprofit organization that mobilizes the AAPI community in every election cycle to ensure the group is educated about the issues and deadlines so that their votes count.
FYI: View the full results from The Harris Poll and the AAVS Survey. For additional community and voter resources, visit aarp.org/AAPI and aarp.org/Election2020.Some of the key findings from these surveys include:
- AAPI voters age 50-plus are highly engaged in this election. Nearly 8 in 10 (79%) registered voters are absolutely certain they will vote in the midterm elections this November, and 44% are more enthusiastic than usual about voting this year.
- The top priority for AAPI voters age 50-plus when deciding how to vote is the cost of living and inflation. Day-to-day affordability is extremely important in deciding the vote for 57% of AAPI voters 50-plus, and another 33% rate it as very important.
- AAPI voters age 50-plus strongly support protecting Social Security and Medicare. Eighty-seven percent say Social Security and Medicare are important factors in how they vote (55% say “extremely” important), and 89% agree that elected leaders should ensure workers receive the Social Security benefits they have already paid into.
- Nearly half (47%) of all AAPI voters 50-plus and 62% of those over 65 say Social Security is either currently a major source of income for their household or is expected to be in the future.Health care affordability remains a major concern.
- Nearly two-thirds of AAPI voters 50-plus (65%) identify health care as one of the most difficult expenses for their household to afford, while 69% are extremely or very concerned about rising health care costs in the coming year. A majority (51%) worry often about not being able to cover an unexpected medical expense.Concerns about health coverage and access are widespread.
- Nearly 6 in 10 (59%) are concerned about losing health insurance, while 56% worry about being unable to access care when needed.Caregiving is both a personal and policy concern for older AAPI voters.
- Nearly one-third (32%) identify as family caregivers, mostly for older or aging family members. Seven in 10 (70%) support stronger federal policies for unpaid family caregivers, and 69% say they would be more likely to support a candidate who backs a tax credit for working family caregivers.Fraud and financial security remain concerns.
- Nearly half (46%) worry very often or somewhat often about losing money to fraud or scams.Housing, food, and caregiving costs add to financial strain. In addition to health care, many AAPI voters 50-plus identify housing or rent (53%), food and groceries (47%), and caring for aging family members (28%) as difficult expenses to afford.
- For AANHPI communities, safety-net programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security aren't political bargaining chips—they are the foundation of family stability across generations. Proposals that curtail funding, restrict eligibility, or repeal coverage protections risk pushing financial vulnerability directly onto working families and elders who have spent a lifetime contributing to their communities.
View from the Edge: Stand up and vote
While the largest AAPI populations continue to be in states like New York, California, Texas and Hawaii, other states across the country have seen their AAPI populations more than double over the last two decades. Nevada has seen a full 167% increase in the AAPI population since 2000. Arizona grew by 157%, and North Carolina by 154% in that same period.
The demographic shift isn't coming—it’s already here. From the rapidly expanding AAPI voting blocs across Nevada, Texas, Georgia Arizona, and North Carolina to established strongholds in California , Hawaii and New York, our growing presence is reshaping the political landscape. But numbers alone don't secure our future; turnout does.
When 90% of eligible AAPI voters express the intent to hit the polls, the potential to swing elections and hold lawmakers accountable is undeniable. Whether it's shielding Medicare and Social Security from the chopping block, tackling inflation, or advocating for tax relief for our family caregivers, the stakes directly hit our households and cross-generational communities.
Overcoming structural hurdles — from language accessibility to state-level voting restrictions — requires us to convert high enthusiasm into actual ballots cast. Younger voters need to make their voices heard, and older voters must continue leading the charge at the ballot box.
Don't let others decide who represents your family's interests. Check your registration, help your elders navigate the ballot, and ensure our collective voice is heard loud and clear this election.
The demographic shift isn't coming—it’s already here. From the rapidly expanding AAPI voting blocs across Nevada, Texas, Georgia Arizona, and North Carolina to established strongholds in California , Hawaii and New York, our growing presence is reshaping the political landscape. But numbers alone don't secure our future; turnout does.
When 90% of eligible AAPI voters express the intent to hit the polls, the potential to swing elections and hold lawmakers accountable is undeniable. Whether it's shielding Medicare and Social Security from the chopping block, tackling inflation, or advocating for tax relief for our family caregivers, the stakes directly hit our households and cross-generational communities.
Overcoming structural hurdles — from language accessibility to state-level voting restrictions — requires us to convert high enthusiasm into actual ballots cast. Younger voters need to make their voices heard, and older voters must continue leading the charge at the ballot box.
Don't let others decide who represents your family's interests. Check your registration, help your elders navigate the ballot, and ensure our collective voice is heard loud and clear this election.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, feel free to repost.
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