Activating the AAPI electorate in North Carolina
Although voter turnout among Asian Americans in North Carolina has been low compared to other racial groups in the past (largely due to low voter contact and limited language access), AAPI voter turnout in the 2018 midterm election saw a significant increase from the previous midterm election cycle. Much of this growth coincides with the get-out-the-vote efforts of North Carolina Asian Americans Together and their partners.
In the recent midterm 2018 election, more than double the number of Asian American voters cast ballots in North Carolina (40,982) than in the 2014 midterm election (17,412). This turnout rate of 44% in the 2018 midterm election represents a 17 percentage point increase from 27% in 2014.
For an election as pivotal as this one, we need to continue mobilizing our local community to help others get involved.
Tips to get started:
- Ask your close friends and family members if they are eligible and aware of how to register to vote. If not, guide them through the process and make plans to go to the precinct or file your mail-in ballots together!
- Start conversations about the candidates and issues that matter to you today.
- Attend a local phone-banking or text-banking event for local activist groups to encourage your fellow North Carolinians to vote. Check out our phone banking page for resources on how to get started.
- Post resources on social media about how to be an active registered voter!
- Host a voter registration drive. This North Carolina Voter Drive Toolkit provides information on how to protect your voting rights, register to vote, and host your own voter registration drive.