The increased number of eligible Asian-American voters, especially in the swing states, means this bloc could play kingmaker in a case of a close contest in the 2024 US Presidential elections
The contest in the United States Presidential elections 2024 has boiled down to primarily two candidates: Joe Biden and Donald Trump. In the run-up to the polls, set to be conducted on November 5, both contestants are expected to fight tooth and nail to woo voters. This time around, Asian-Americans– an often ignored voter bloc in the US– is expected to become crucial in the race.
Here are five reasons why.
The numbers game
According to Pew Research Center, Asian-Americans have been the fastest-growing eligible voter group in the US for roughly two decades now. Several states across the US have seen their Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population more than double over the past 20 years, according to the non-partisan organisation, Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote).
In the past four years, this electorate has gained approximately 2 million eligible voters. In the November polls, an estimated 15 million Asian-Americans will be eligible to mark their ballots. That is about 6.1 per cent of all eligible voters. In case of a close match, like the one witnessed in 2020, their voice will become critical.
Crucial in swing states
Since 2000, Nevada, has seen a 167 per cent increase in the AAPI population, while Arizona has witnessed a 157 per cent jump on that metric in that same period.
Christine Chen, the Executive Director of APIAVote, named the states where Asian Americans could make the most difference in November. “Georgia and Nevada are going to be right there at the top. But we also see where our numbers can make a difference is also Arizona, Wisconsin, with the Hmong community, as well as Pennsylvania,” she told Reuters.
Notably, Nevada, Wisconsin, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona have repeatedly appeared in the list of swing states– states where…
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