The number of registered Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters in the country is increasing, and their willingness to vote is high. However, it appears that they are not receiving the necessary information from political parties and candidates.
According to a recent survey conducted by AAPI Data, 90% of the 2,479 domestic AAPI respondents indicated that they plan to vote in the presidential and congressional elections. Additionally, 68% expressed that they are “definitely going to vote,” reflecting a strong intent to participate.
The enthusiasm is particularly strong among younger voters, with 85% of those aged 18-34 saying they would vote, while 62% of older voters responded similarly.
In terms of voting methods, 46% stated that they would participate through early voting or mail-in ballots, rather than voting in person on election day.
However, it has been found that political parties are not sufficiently engaging with these voters. Among respondents, 42% of Asian American voters say they have not been contacted by either of the two major political parties this election season, including half (50%) who say they have not been contacted by the Democratic Party and 57% indicating not being contacted by the Republican Party.
AAPI voters highlighted the economy (86%), inflation (85%), healthcare (85%), crime (80%), and education (80%) as the most important issues in this election.
Meanwhile, the favorability rating for Kamala Harris among Korean American voters stood at 39%, which is relatively low compared to other ethnic groups. For Donald Trump, 33% expressed favorability, marking the second-lowest rating after Chinese Americans.
BY BRIAN CHOI [ichoi@koreadaily.com]
