With the November 5 US presidential elections approaching, a significant initiative has been launched to enhance the political participation of Indian-Americans. The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) has introduced the “Indo American Votes Matter” campaign, emphasizing the potential impact of the Indian-American community on the upcoming elections.
FIIDS highlights that Indian-Americans, who number around 4.5 million nationwide, are concentrated in critical swing states such as Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. This demographic concentration could play a pivotal role in deciding the outcome of the elections.
Khanderao Kand, Chief of Policy and Strategy at FIIDS, asserts that Indian-Americans have a unique opportunity to influence the election results. The campaign aims to mobilize this community by increasing voter registration and ensuring their voices are heard on key policy issues.
The campaign will conduct a comprehensive survey to gather Indian-Americans’ views on domestic and global policy matters. This data will help tailor the campaign’s efforts and ensure that the community’s concerns are addressed by political parties.
Kand emphasizes the importance of considering Indian-American policy issues by both the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The campaign’s goal is to register at least one million Indian-American voters for the upcoming election.
By engaging more Indian-Americans in the electoral process, the campaign seeks to maximize their impact on the election outcome. The initiative reflects a broader effort to enhance the political engagement of immigrant communities in the US.
The “Indo American Votes Matter” campaign not only aims to increase voter turnout but also seeks to ensure that the policy preferences of Indian-Americans are taken into account by major political parties.
With the elections just around the corner, this campaign represents a crucial step in empowering a significant segment of the American electorate to actively participate in shaping the nation’s future.