Magazine Online at www.asiatrendmagazine.com
COMMINITY NEWS
43
Asian Pacific Islander Americans: GET OUT THE VOTE THIS FALL This fall, issues facing our great nation are up for debate and discussion. It is our responsibility and duty as American citizens to participate in this national discussion and to participate in the political process, thereby voicing ourselves in hopes of bettering our society. According to statistics, Asian Pacific Islander Americans are the least likely of any racial group in the United States to vote in elections. Why is this happening when so many of our community believe so strongly in the American dream? If we truly believe in the ideals of America, of freedom and democracy, we must participate 100 percent in American society and vote. From healthcare to education to social security to taxes to immigration, to local issues like more public parks and better public transportation, all of these are issues that we as a society must address. By voting for elected officials, we cast a vote not only for that person but also for the views that you wish that person will fight for, for you, your family and community and to keep that person accountable for their promises. If we do not participate in voting, and the elected official decides to act this way and that, we have no room to complain if we did not voice ourselves in the first place. There are various reasons given about why Asian Americans sometimes do not vote in elections. Some include language barrier, lack of understanding of issues, lack of outreach by politicians to the community among some. Also culturally, in some Asian countries there is a proverb that “the nail that sticks out, gets hammered down.” But as responsible citizens it is our duty to voice ourselves and vote. Asian Pacific Americans make up over 2 percent of the Florida population but do not make up even 1 percent of elected officials. There are 0 elected state officials in the state of Florida who are of Asian American descent. If we are to be accurately represented, if our country is truly made of by the people and for the people there would be equal representation in our government. Asian Americans are the fastest growing minority group in the United States, and as a community with growing social and political problems, it is increasingly important that Asian Americans play a more active role in American politics and government. Asians Americans
must actively participate in the political process or be left out of the conversation and forgotten. A lot of times, we forget about the midterm elections because the Presidential elections every four years are covered by the media a lot more. However, the way in which our nation votes in this year 2006 will ultimately affect the outcome of the 2008 Presidential elections. This fall 2006, hundreds of public offices are up for election, including the Governor of Florida, the mayor of Orange county, county commissioners, school board officials, and many more. These are the officials who directly affect your every day life the most. It is even more crucial for our community to vote this fall. Senator Mee Moua, the first Asian American senator in the state of Minnesota once said “When I speak, I must speak loudly and clearly, for when I speak, I speak for the thousands of people who are not heard every day.” We must voice ourselves now and speak up or else continue the trend of silence in our society. According to the Florida Supervisor of Elections Office, to register and vote, you must be 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States of America and a legal resident of Florida and of the county where you intend to vote. A person who is otherwise qualified may pre-register on or after that person’s 17th birthday and may vote in any election held on or after that person’s 18th birthday.
To register to vote, you must fill out a voter registration application. Voter registration applications are available at your local supervisor of elections’ office, the Division of Elections (also see our web site at http:// election.dos.state.fl.us/RegToVote/regform. shtml), driver’s license offices, state agencies that provide public assistance, state agencies that serve persons with disabilities, public libraries and many other public locations. Additionally, you will be offered the opportunity to apply to register to vote or change your voter registration when you obtain your driver’s license, when you apply for public assistance at state agencies, or when you apply for services at state agencies that serve persons with disabilities. To find our more about issues, visit the Orlando Sentinels Voter Guide Toolkit at http://www.vgt2004.org/a-orlandosentinel06/get-started.do or visit the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office at www.ocfelections.com Election date: Tuesday November 7th
2006 7am - 7pm
Registration Deadline: Tuesday Octo-
ber 10th 2006
Additional Resources:
Florida Voter Education Guide 2006 http://election.dos.state.fl.us/publications/ pdf/2006VoterGuide.pdf Florida Supervisor of Elections Office http://election.dos.state.fl.us APIA VOTE http://www.apiavote.org By Ricky Ly