NEW AMERICANS IN THE BUCKEYE STATE:
Immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are Critical to Ohio's Future
July 27, 2009
Washington D.C. - The Immigration Policy Center has compiled research which shows that Ohio's immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are an integral part of the state's economy and tax base. As workers, taxpayers, consumers, and entrepreneurs, immigrants and their children are an economic powerhouse. As Ohio's economy begins to recover, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in the shaping and growing the economic and political landscape of the Buckeye State.
Highlights of the research include:
· Immigrants make up nearly 4% of Ohio's total population and nearly half of them are naturalized citizens who are eligible to vote.
· New Americans (naturalized U.S. citizens and their U.S.-born children) represent 2.4% of the state's voting population.
· The purchasing power of Ohio's Asians totaled $7.1 billion and Latino buying power totaled $6.1 billion in 2008.
· Asian-owned businesses in the state generated sales and receipts worth more than $5.1 billion annually and Latino-owned businesses generated $1.3 billion in 2002.
There is no denying the contributions immigrants make and the important role they play in Ohio's political and economic future. For more data on the contributions of immigrants to Ohio's economy, view the IPC fact sheet in its entirety.
* * * * *
Save the Date!
Fourteenth (14th) Annual Conference
Thursday & Friday, March 25-26, 2010
The University of Toledo
Dana Conference Center
http://hsc.utoledo.edu/camp/tour/dana.html
3110 Glendale Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43615
Who Should Attend?
Human Resource Professionals
EEO Officers
Higher Education Professionals
Students
Non-Profit Executives
Diversity Trainers
Healthcare Professionals
Law Enforcement
Attorneys and Leal Professionals
Affirmative Action Officers
Business Owners
Join peers from a wide variety of professions from around the state for a one-and-a-half day conference focusing on the past, present and future of equality, diversity, and opportunity in the State of Ohio. Program tracks include Diversity and Community Outreach, Best Practices for Equal Opportunity in Employment Investigations, Laws & Order, Inclusion and Demographic Trends.
CEU's are available for psychologists and social workers.
Showing posts with label Asian Americans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asian Americans. Show all posts
Monday, August 10, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Asian Americans: How a Resume Can Catch the Eye of Diversity-Minded Employers, July 24, 2009
Wednesday July 22, 2009. Asianlife.com
Keep Raising The Bar
Alexandra Levit
As a society, we're obsessed with achievement. But what happens once you're considered objectively successful, with a great salary and a job that energizes you? It's easy to rest on your accomplishments and your way of getting work done, perhaps even feeling there's not much left to learn.
But in this economy, you can't afford to sit back -- even though it might be tempting.
"Successful people fall into the trap of thinking they don't need to change anything because their behavior is working for them," says Marshall Goldsmith, author of "What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful." "Every time they get promoted...they get positive reinforcement even when certain skills are lacking."
Read more: http://www.asianlife.com:80/magazine/view/articles/id/645838789
* * * * *
Wednesday July 22, 2009, Asianlife.com
How a Resume Can Catch the Eye of Diversity-Minded Employers
By Perri Capell, Career Journal
Question: I constantly read that companies are seeking diversity in their senior ranks, but I've been told I shouldn't state my race on a resume. So how can you let an organization know that you can contribute to its diversity needs? Is there a way to do this without appearing to ask for special treatment?
-- John M. Williams, Atlanta
John: You're right about this being an issue that requires sensitivity. Federal equal employment opportunity laws prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender and other preferences.
Assume you immediately tell recruiters on the phone that you're a member of a minority or put it at the top of your resume. Some employers might take this as a sign that you'd make it an issue if you weren't hired.
Read more: http://www.asianlife.com:80/magazine/view/articles/id/645838790
Keep Raising The Bar
Alexandra Levit
As a society, we're obsessed with achievement. But what happens once you're considered objectively successful, with a great salary and a job that energizes you? It's easy to rest on your accomplishments and your way of getting work done, perhaps even feeling there's not much left to learn.
But in this economy, you can't afford to sit back -- even though it might be tempting.
"Successful people fall into the trap of thinking they don't need to change anything because their behavior is working for them," says Marshall Goldsmith, author of "What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful." "Every time they get promoted...they get positive reinforcement even when certain skills are lacking."
Read more: http://www.asianlife.com:80/magazine/view/articles/id/645838789
* * * * *
Wednesday July 22, 2009, Asianlife.com
How a Resume Can Catch the Eye of Diversity-Minded Employers
By Perri Capell, Career Journal
Question: I constantly read that companies are seeking diversity in their senior ranks, but I've been told I shouldn't state my race on a resume. So how can you let an organization know that you can contribute to its diversity needs? Is there a way to do this without appearing to ask for special treatment?
-- John M. Williams, Atlanta
John: You're right about this being an issue that requires sensitivity. Federal equal employment opportunity laws prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender and other preferences.
Assume you immediately tell recruiters on the phone that you're a member of a minority or put it at the top of your resume. Some employers might take this as a sign that you'd make it an issue if you weren't hired.
Read more: http://www.asianlife.com:80/magazine/view/articles/id/645838790
Monday, July 20, 2009
Asian Ameircan Pacific Islander, Election Survey
The 2008 National Asian American Survey - A Post-Election Report in New York City
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 a community briefing from the 2008 National Asian American Survey!
NEW YORK CITY-Data on Asian American political behavior and policy preferences will be released in New York City on July 22, 2009. The National Asian American Survey, conducted in the fall of 2008, will be presenting new findings that highlight the importance of Asian Americans to the political process and to policy debates. They will discuss voter mobilization and turnout, political participation beyond voting, and also present findings on:
Civic engagement;
interracial attitudes and coalition polictics;
discrimination and hate crimes; and
policy items like health care and immigration
DATE: Wednesday, July 22 , 2009
TIME: 5:00 - 7:00 pm
LOCATION: Seyfarth Shaw LLP
620 Eighth Avenue, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10018-1405
Appetizers and beverages will be provided.
RSVP TO: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHRXR2NaWmNJV1pGejU1LU95eTNvcmc6MA
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS:
Asian American Federation of NY
APIAVote
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Chhaya CDC
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
OCA New York Chapter
YKASEC - Empowering the Korean American Community
(list in formation)
The initial release in the fall of 2008 showed a majority of the Asian American eligible voters still undecided about their presidential pick. NAAS researchers documented the population's presidential preferences and the differences of opinion among its specific groups. The data also revealed the pivotal role Asian Americans could play in U.S. presidential races, given their significant presence in battleground states and swing states, and indications that, with a notable percentage of that population undecided, their vote was up for grabs.
###
Executive Summary: 2008 National Asian American Survey
The 2008 NAAS is a groundbreaking study of the contours and contexts of Asian American civic and political engagement. Funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Russell Sage Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, and the Eagleton Institute of Politics, the centerpiece of this study is a national, multiethnic, multi-lingual, multi-site survey of 5,159 Asians in United States. This undertaking brings together a team of four investigators - Jane Junn (Rutgers University), S. Karthick Ramakrishnan (University of California, Riverside), Janelle Wong (University of Southern California), and Taeku Lee (University of California, Berkeley) - who are leading political scientists researching the politics of immigration, race and ethnicity, Asian American politics, and political behavior in the United States more generally.
The survey will showcase the most comprehensive data yet available on the civic and political participation of Asians Americans. It will shed important new light on questions such as: When and why do Asian Americans become politically active? Which issues and contexts define Asian Americans into a coherent and potentially mobilizable political group? How are Asian Americans likely to vote in the coming November elections?
The survey combines innovations in sample design and survey methodology that include:
Comparing multiple measures of political engagement: from citizenship, registration, voting and campaign donations to non-electoral measures of engagement, such as protesting, religiosity, and organizational membership.
Integrating individual-level survey responses with contextual-level (zip code, county, state) data on demographic, economic, organizational, and political factors of interest.
Sampling a large enough number of Asian Americans to analyze:
six ethnic groups of interest - Asian Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Koreans, and Vietnamese.
eight languages - Cantonese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and English.
Asians in traditional immigrant "gateways" as well as those in "new destinations" like Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Charlotte, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Interviews were conducted during August, September, and early October 2008.
###
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 a community briefing from the 2008 National Asian American Survey!
NEW YORK CITY-Data on Asian American political behavior and policy preferences will be released in New York City on July 22, 2009. The National Asian American Survey, conducted in the fall of 2008, will be presenting new findings that highlight the importance of Asian Americans to the political process and to policy debates. They will discuss voter mobilization and turnout, political participation beyond voting, and also present findings on:
Civic engagement;
interracial attitudes and coalition polictics;
discrimination and hate crimes; and
policy items like health care and immigration
DATE: Wednesday, July 22 , 2009
TIME: 5:00 - 7:00 pm
LOCATION: Seyfarth Shaw LLP
620 Eighth Avenue, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10018-1405
Appetizers and beverages will be provided.
RSVP TO: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHRXR2NaWmNJV1pGejU1LU95eTNvcmc6MA
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS:
Asian American Federation of NY
APIAVote
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Chhaya CDC
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
OCA New York Chapter
YKASEC - Empowering the Korean American Community
(list in formation)
The initial release in the fall of 2008 showed a majority of the Asian American eligible voters still undecided about their presidential pick. NAAS researchers documented the population's presidential preferences and the differences of opinion among its specific groups. The data also revealed the pivotal role Asian Americans could play in U.S. presidential races, given their significant presence in battleground states and swing states, and indications that, with a notable percentage of that population undecided, their vote was up for grabs.
###
Executive Summary: 2008 National Asian American Survey
The 2008 NAAS is a groundbreaking study of the contours and contexts of Asian American civic and political engagement. Funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Russell Sage Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, and the Eagleton Institute of Politics, the centerpiece of this study is a national, multiethnic, multi-lingual, multi-site survey of 5,159 Asians in United States. This undertaking brings together a team of four investigators - Jane Junn (Rutgers University), S. Karthick Ramakrishnan (University of California, Riverside), Janelle Wong (University of Southern California), and Taeku Lee (University of California, Berkeley) - who are leading political scientists researching the politics of immigration, race and ethnicity, Asian American politics, and political behavior in the United States more generally.
The survey will showcase the most comprehensive data yet available on the civic and political participation of Asians Americans. It will shed important new light on questions such as: When and why do Asian Americans become politically active? Which issues and contexts define Asian Americans into a coherent and potentially mobilizable political group? How are Asian Americans likely to vote in the coming November elections?
The survey combines innovations in sample design and survey methodology that include:
Comparing multiple measures of political engagement: from citizenship, registration, voting and campaign donations to non-electoral measures of engagement, such as protesting, religiosity, and organizational membership.
Integrating individual-level survey responses with contextual-level (zip code, county, state) data on demographic, economic, organizational, and political factors of interest.
Sampling a large enough number of Asian Americans to analyze:
six ethnic groups of interest - Asian Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Koreans, and Vietnamese.
eight languages - Cantonese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and English.
Asians in traditional immigrant "gateways" as well as those in "new destinations" like Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Charlotte, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Interviews were conducted during August, September, and early October 2008.
###
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Why Are Asian American Executives Scarce?
Wednesday July 15, 2009, Asian Diversity/Asianlife Magazine issue # 132, July 15, 2009
Why Are Asian American Executives Scarce?
Dan Woog
She points out that IBM is one of the few US companies with enough Asian American executives to form this type of support network. The population is over represented in certain industries, particularly technology. According to Goldsea.com, an Asian American Web site, Asian Americans make up 60 percent of Silicon Valley’s professional and technical workforce and 28 percent of enrollment at the top 20 business schools. Yet eagerness and education do not necessarily pave the way to the top in any industry. Asian Americans account for only 1.5 percent of top executives at Fortune 1000 firms, according to the site.
So how can ambitious Asian Americans overcome obstacles to the executive suite? Insiders like Akutagawa say it’s important to recognize the multifaceted nature of the problem and get both individuals and companies to change the way they operate without forsaking culture or the bottom line.
Reasons for the Executive Shortage
Akutagawa cites several reasons for the scant number of top Asian American executives, beginning with stereotypes and perceptions. “It goes back to the model-minority myth of the ’60s, when we were seen as studying hard, working hard and never complaining,” she says. “In fact, at the entry level, a lot of us do that. We were raised to not rock the boat or question authority. Part of leadership is standing up for what’s right. When we sit quietly in meetings, others may see us as followers or think we lack knowledge or insight.”
Socioeconomic conditions and family backgrounds also play a role. Akutagawa says that first or second-generation Asian Americans may have no role models of success in large corporations. Recent immigrants from affluent families may have those models and can hit the ground running, even if their English may not be as strong as those who were born here.
But blame does not rest solely on Asian Americans’ shoulders. There is a pipeline of talent in large companies that is eager to advance, says Ivan Fong, executive vice president and chief legal officer of Cardinal Health Inc. But, unfortunately, there are leaks along that pipeline.
What Companies Can Do
Companies must recognize what is happening, Akutagawa says. “They bear responsibility for building a pipeline of qualified and prepared employees who can compete for top positions. They have to ensure they have a diverse pool of candidates. That means encouraging people to get broad exposure through rotational jobs, recruiting them for the executive track and going back to find people they may have missed in their first search.”
Some companies already do this. Akutagawa singled out “those who are global competitors or recognize changing demographics. They realize their customer base is evolving and that the next generation of executives won’t look like the white men they’re replacing.”
Right now, anecdotal evidence shows Asian Americans rising fastest at technology companies. That may stem from the stereotypes that Asian Americans are good at science and math, and fluency in English is not as important in those areas.
What Would-Be Execs Should Do
Fong says there are things Asian Americans can do to help their chances of getting an office in the executive suite. Immigrants who are sensitive about their accents may seem even more reserved than they are. He encourages mid-level managers to speak up more in meetings, and learn about popular culture and sports. Casual conversation about those topics is important at senior levels, he notes. So is image and exposure to those in a position to promote.
Akutagawa advises Asian Americans in all fields that “to be successful in the executive suite, we shouldn’t give up our culture and values. But we have to recognize the skills needed to be an effective leader. We have to learn to speak up and be noticed, even if it’s just to point out that we work well collaboratively.”
Why Are Asian American Executives Scarce?
Dan Woog
She points out that IBM is one of the few US companies with enough Asian American executives to form this type of support network. The population is over represented in certain industries, particularly technology. According to Goldsea.com, an Asian American Web site, Asian Americans make up 60 percent of Silicon Valley’s professional and technical workforce and 28 percent of enrollment at the top 20 business schools. Yet eagerness and education do not necessarily pave the way to the top in any industry. Asian Americans account for only 1.5 percent of top executives at Fortune 1000 firms, according to the site.
So how can ambitious Asian Americans overcome obstacles to the executive suite? Insiders like Akutagawa say it’s important to recognize the multifaceted nature of the problem and get both individuals and companies to change the way they operate without forsaking culture or the bottom line.
Reasons for the Executive Shortage
Akutagawa cites several reasons for the scant number of top Asian American executives, beginning with stereotypes and perceptions. “It goes back to the model-minority myth of the ’60s, when we were seen as studying hard, working hard and never complaining,” she says. “In fact, at the entry level, a lot of us do that. We were raised to not rock the boat or question authority. Part of leadership is standing up for what’s right. When we sit quietly in meetings, others may see us as followers or think we lack knowledge or insight.”
Socioeconomic conditions and family backgrounds also play a role. Akutagawa says that first or second-generation Asian Americans may have no role models of success in large corporations. Recent immigrants from affluent families may have those models and can hit the ground running, even if their English may not be as strong as those who were born here.
But blame does not rest solely on Asian Americans’ shoulders. There is a pipeline of talent in large companies that is eager to advance, says Ivan Fong, executive vice president and chief legal officer of Cardinal Health Inc. But, unfortunately, there are leaks along that pipeline.
What Companies Can Do
Companies must recognize what is happening, Akutagawa says. “They bear responsibility for building a pipeline of qualified and prepared employees who can compete for top positions. They have to ensure they have a diverse pool of candidates. That means encouraging people to get broad exposure through rotational jobs, recruiting them for the executive track and going back to find people they may have missed in their first search.”
Some companies already do this. Akutagawa singled out “those who are global competitors or recognize changing demographics. They realize their customer base is evolving and that the next generation of executives won’t look like the white men they’re replacing.”
Right now, anecdotal evidence shows Asian Americans rising fastest at technology companies. That may stem from the stereotypes that Asian Americans are good at science and math, and fluency in English is not as important in those areas.
What Would-Be Execs Should Do
Fong says there are things Asian Americans can do to help their chances of getting an office in the executive suite. Immigrants who are sensitive about their accents may seem even more reserved than they are. He encourages mid-level managers to speak up more in meetings, and learn about popular culture and sports. Casual conversation about those topics is important at senior levels, he notes. So is image and exposure to those in a position to promote.
Akutagawa advises Asian Americans in all fields that “to be successful in the executive suite, we shouldn’t give up our culture and values. But we have to recognize the skills needed to be an effective leader. We have to learn to speak up and be noticed, even if it’s just to point out that we work well collaboratively.”
Asian Americans: The Model-Minority Myth
Asian Diversity/Asianlife Magazine issue # 132, July 15, 2009
From Asianlife.com
Jane Hyun
"Asian Americans are good in technical fields, but are not good managers."
"Asian Americans are doing just fine; they don't need any help."
"Asian Americans are America's success story."
Even in the age of multiculturalism and political correctness, many people still believe these statements about Asian Americans. The model-minority myth is the assumption that Asian Americans have overcome all barriers to success in the US, and implies they make up an intelligent, hard-working minority group that has achieved the American Dream. Unfortunately, these depictions aren't always the case, and they have created unrealistic expectations many Asian Americans simply cannot live up to in work, academic and social settings. For every Asian American who fits the model-minority standard, there are others who are struggling to survive financially. As with any minority group, Asian Americans come from all socioeconomic backgrounds. A Vietnamese immigrant in urban Chicago shares little in common with the second generation Taiwanese American who was raised in a midwestern suburb speaking only English in the home.
Outside the Model Myth
Tom Hoang*, a 26-year-old Vietnamese American, has never felt like a model minority. His family has always struggled financially, and even now, he helps support his parents, who speak little English and are too elderly to work. He never went to college -- breaking another Asian American stereotype -- and currently works as a manager of a hardware store. “I never lived up to what my non-Asian American teachers and friends expected of me,” he says. “While I'm pretty happy with my career, as an Asian who hasn't lived up to others' expectations, I often feel alienated.”
Even Positive Stereotypes Can Hurt
The myth can also hurt professionals in work settings (http://diversity.monster.com/articles/positivebias). Karen Chan*, a Chinese
American, had worked in the finance department of a midsize retail chain for seven years and was the controller for the last two. Last year, her new boss started making odd but casual remarks about her work and http://www.hrguru.com/training/articles/331-why-are-asian-american-executives-scarce ethnicity. “My boss would make comments like, ‘I can always count on you to get the budget right, because I know Asians are good with numbers,'” Chan says. Though on the surface his comments seemed harmless, other department heads thought of Chan as a finance expert and nothing else. “I actually majored in English, and when I chose finance as a career, it wasn't because I was a quantitative expert. I knew I had an eye for detail, and I appreciated the foundation finance would provide for a long-term career in business,” Chan adds. After a while, Chan decided to approach her boss over lunch. “At first, it was hard to believe my boss's comments were said to me in this day and age,” she says. “I knew he didn't mean to make the comments to deliberately hurt me, but I didn't want him to continue doing it. I may want to make a switch to operations or marketing, and my boss's comments were cornering me into a finance career within the firm.” After their initial discussion, they both agreed to continue to communicate about these slips and to discuss them as they occur.
Overcome Perceptions
As an Asian American professional, how do you combat misguided perceptions and better inform others about Asian Americans? Chan took the time to discuss how these perceptions were misguided (http://diversity.monster.com/articles/differences/) . Another way to help foster a culturally aware workplace is to become an active member of your corporate diversity program (/asam/articles/corpamerica/) , provided your company has such an organization. Make sure you're visible; join company subcommittees and task forces, thereby becoming a voice for Asian Americans in your firm.
*The subjects for this story requested that their names be changed or removed to protect their identities.
The purpose of this article is to both provide information and facilitate general dialogue about various employment-related topics. No legal advice is being given and no attorney-client relationship created. Please see the disclaimer.
(http://discussion.monster.com/disclaimer/) for further limitations and conditions.
From Asianlife.com
Jane Hyun
"Asian Americans are good in technical fields, but are not good managers."
"Asian Americans are doing just fine; they don't need any help."
"Asian Americans are America's success story."
Even in the age of multiculturalism and political correctness, many people still believe these statements about Asian Americans. The model-minority myth is the assumption that Asian Americans have overcome all barriers to success in the US, and implies they make up an intelligent, hard-working minority group that has achieved the American Dream. Unfortunately, these depictions aren't always the case, and they have created unrealistic expectations many Asian Americans simply cannot live up to in work, academic and social settings. For every Asian American who fits the model-minority standard, there are others who are struggling to survive financially. As with any minority group, Asian Americans come from all socioeconomic backgrounds. A Vietnamese immigrant in urban Chicago shares little in common with the second generation Taiwanese American who was raised in a midwestern suburb speaking only English in the home.
Outside the Model Myth
Tom Hoang*, a 26-year-old Vietnamese American, has never felt like a model minority. His family has always struggled financially, and even now, he helps support his parents, who speak little English and are too elderly to work. He never went to college -- breaking another Asian American stereotype -- and currently works as a manager of a hardware store. “I never lived up to what my non-Asian American teachers and friends expected of me,” he says. “While I'm pretty happy with my career, as an Asian who hasn't lived up to others' expectations, I often feel alienated.”
Even Positive Stereotypes Can Hurt
The myth can also hurt professionals in work settings (http://diversity.monster.com/articles/positivebias). Karen Chan*, a Chinese
American, had worked in the finance department of a midsize retail chain for seven years and was the controller for the last two. Last year, her new boss started making odd but casual remarks about her work and http://www.hrguru.com/training/articles/331-why-are-asian-american-executives-scarce ethnicity. “My boss would make comments like, ‘I can always count on you to get the budget right, because I know Asians are good with numbers,'” Chan says. Though on the surface his comments seemed harmless, other department heads thought of Chan as a finance expert and nothing else. “I actually majored in English, and when I chose finance as a career, it wasn't because I was a quantitative expert. I knew I had an eye for detail, and I appreciated the foundation finance would provide for a long-term career in business,” Chan adds. After a while, Chan decided to approach her boss over lunch. “At first, it was hard to believe my boss's comments were said to me in this day and age,” she says. “I knew he didn't mean to make the comments to deliberately hurt me, but I didn't want him to continue doing it. I may want to make a switch to operations or marketing, and my boss's comments were cornering me into a finance career within the firm.” After their initial discussion, they both agreed to continue to communicate about these slips and to discuss them as they occur.
Overcome Perceptions
As an Asian American professional, how do you combat misguided perceptions and better inform others about Asian Americans? Chan took the time to discuss how these perceptions were misguided (http://diversity.monster.com/articles/differences/) . Another way to help foster a culturally aware workplace is to become an active member of your corporate diversity program (/asam/articles/corpamerica/) , provided your company has such an organization. Make sure you're visible; join company subcommittees and task forces, thereby becoming a voice for Asian Americans in your firm.
*The subjects for this story requested that their names be changed or removed to protect their identities.
The purpose of this article is to both provide information and facilitate general dialogue about various employment-related topics. No legal advice is being given and no attorney-client relationship created. Please see the disclaimer.
(http://discussion.monster.com/disclaimer/) for further limitations and conditions.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Asian American Vote in 2008 Presedential Election A report of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
A REPORT OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE
AND EDUCATION FUND
THE ASIAN AMERICAN VOTE
IN THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
By Harish Trivedi
Here is a brief summary of the survey of exit polls conducted by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) that was published last week
The states that were surveyed included NY, NJ, MA, PA, VA, MD, DC, MI, IL, LA, TX, NV
Ohio was not among the states that were survey.
On Election Day, November 4, 2008, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) dispatched 1,500 attorneys, law students and community volunteers to poll sites in 11 states and conducted a nonpartisan multilingual exit poll of 16,665 Asian American voters.
AALDEF’s exit poll was the nation’s largest survey of Asian American voters and covered 113 poll sites in 39 cities. The exit poll was conducted in English and twelve Asian languages. Asian American voters often are overlooked by the mainstream media and by candidates for political office. When the media neglect the Asian American vote, candidates often follow suit. When they do report on the Asian American vote, the data may be skewed because respondents were surveyed only in English.
Multilingual exit polls give a fuller and more accurate portrait of Asian American voters than polls conducted only in English. AALDEF’s exit poll reveals details about the Asian American community including voter preferences on candidates, political parties, language needs, and other issues of vital importance to our community.
Profile of Respondents
The six largest Asian ethnic groups polled in 2008 were Chinese (32%), South Asian (32%), Korean (14%), Southeast Asian (9%), and Filipino (5%). South Asian includes Asian Indians, Bangladeshis, Indo- Caribbeans, Pakistanis, and Sri Lankans. Southeast Asian includes Cambodians, Indonesians, Laotians, Thais, and Vietnamese. Democratic Majority
A clear majority (58%) of Asian Americans were registered Democrats, 26% were not enrolled in any political party, and 13% of Asian Americans were registered Republicans. Party crossover voting heavily favored Democrats. A larger proportion of Asian American Republicans crossed party lines to vote for Obama than did Asian American Democrats voting for McCain. Moreover, the vast majority of Asian Americans not enrolled in a party voted for Obama.
During the presidential election, Asian Americans voted as a bloc for the same candidates and identified common reasons for their votes. Economy/Jobs was the dominant issue influencing the Asian American vote for President (66%) followed by Health Care (40%), Foreign Policy/War in Iraq (31%), Education (27%), and Civil Rights/Immigration Rights (23%).
AALDEF’s exit poll revealed that many Asian Americans, especially those who were limited English proficient, were concerned with losing their homes because of foreclosure.
Language Access
One in five (20%) voters identified English as their native language. In the 2008 elections, 43% of respondents who were limited English proficient preferred to use some form of language assistance to vote.
Voting Barriers
AALDEF poll monitors received more than 800 complaints of voting problems. Asian American voters also faced long lines, a lack of Asian-language assistance, poll books with missing voter names, and machine breakdowns.
On November 4, 2008, AALDEF surveyed 16,665 Asian American voters at 113 poll sites in 39 cities across eleven states - New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas, and Nevada - and Washington, D.C.
Poll sites with large concentrations of Asian American voters were selected using voter registration files, census data, and interviews with local elections officials and community leaders. Poll sites with a history of voting problems were also selected. Volunteer exit pollsters were stationed at poll sites.
Survey questionnaires were written in twelve Asian languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Punjabi, Tagalog, Urdu, and Vietnamese, in addition to English. One in four respondents (25%) completed Asian language questionnaires, while 75% completed the English version.
PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS
Ethnicity
Survey respondents were Chinese (32%), Asian Indian (15%), Korean (14%), Bangladeshi (8%); the remaining respondents were of other Asian ethnicities and were multiracial or multiethnic Asians.
Language
While 20% of respondents identified English as their native language, 27% identified one or more Chinese dialects as their native language (including Cantonese, Mandarin), 24% spoke one or more South Asian languages (including Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu), 12% spoke Korean, 8% spoke one or more Southeast Asian languages (including Vietnamese, Khmer, Lao), 4% spoke Tagalog, 3% spoke Arabic, and 2% identified another Asian language as their native language. Fifteen percent (15%) identified English as their native language. Among Korean voters, 81% selected Korean as their native language, while 18% identified English as their native language. Among South Asian voters, 27% selected Bengali as their native language, 11% selected Gujarati, 11% selected Urdu, 7% selected Hindi, and 5% selected Punjabi. Thirteen percent (13%) of South Asian voters spoke multiple South Asian languages or other South Asian languages, including Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam, and Marathi. Twenty-four percent (24%) identified English as their native language.
Limited English Proficiency
Thirty-five percent (35%) of Asian voters surveyed said they read English less than “very well.” Of all language groups, native Korean-speaking voters exhibited the highest rate of limited English proficiency, with 66% indicating that they have at least some difficulty reading English. In Chicago, Illinois, 81% of native Korean-speaking respondents were limited English proficient. In Boston, Massachusetts, 70% of native Chinese speakers and 54% of native Vietnamese speakers were limited English proficient. In Queens, New York, 58% of native Chinese speakers and 75% of native Korean speakers were limited
English proficient.
Forty-three percent (43%) of all respondents who were limited English proficient reported that they preferred voting with the help of an interpreter or translated voting materials. Groups with significant rates of limited English proficiency also exhibited a high propensity towards the use of an interpreter or translated voting
Thirty-one percent (31%) of native Chinese speakers, 28% of native Khmer speakers, and 27% of native Vietnamese speakers preferred to use some form of language assistance while voting.
Foreign Born
The groups with the highest rates of foreign-born, naturalized citizens were South Asians (87%), Koreans (83%), and Southeast Asians (83%). respondents at 55%, 57%, and 54% respectively.
Korean respondents, had no formal education in the U.S., the highest rate among all Asian ethnic groups surveyed.
First-Time Voting
Thirty-one percent (31%) of all Asian American voters surveyed stated that they voted for the first time in the November 2008 Presidential Elections. Ethnicity %
Indo-Caribbean 90%
Pakistani 88%
Vietnamese 86%
Korean 83%
Asian Indian 82%
All Asian Americans 79%
Chinese 74%
Filipino 74%
Party Affiliation
The majority of Asian Americans surveyed (58%) were registered Democrats, 13% were registered Republicans, and 3% were enrolled in other parties. Twenty-six percent (26%) of all Asian American respondents were not enrolled in any political party. South Asian voters were enrolled in the Democratic Party at higher rates than all other Asian ethnic groups.
Vote for President
THE ASIAN AMERICAN VOTE
AALDEF’s multilingual exit poll revealed that Asian Americans favored Barack Obama over John McCain, 76% to 23%, in the historic election of the nation’s first African American President. First-time voters and South Asian Americans demonstrated even stronger support for Obama. Vote for President by Ethnicity
Generally, Asian Americans demonstrated political unity, even across ethnic lines. With only one exception - Vietnamese American voters - each Asian ethnic group voted as a bloc for Obama. Ninety-three percent (93%) of South Asian American voters supported Barack Obama. In contrast, Vietnamese American voters gave McCain the strongest support of all Asian ethnic groups at 67%. 18-29 years old voted for Obama. In previous presidential elections, South Asian voters have supported the Democratic presidential candidates most strongly of all Asian ethnic groups. In the 2000 presidential elections, 80% of South Asians voted for the Democratic candidate Al Gore.6 In 2004, 90% voted for Democratic candidate Senator John Kerry. With 73% of Chinese Americans and 64% of Korean Americans supporting Obama in 2008, 72% of Chinese voters and 66% of Korean voters supported Senator Kerry in the 2004 elections. In 2000, the majority of Chinese and Korean Americans voted for Al Gore at 79% and 80% respectively.
Vote for President by State
Asian Americans in Michigan, Massachusetts, and New York were among the strongest supporters for Obama, whereas Asian Americans in Louisiana and Texas strongly supported McCain, largely because of the high number of Vietnamese voters surveyed. In states where Asian American voters supported Obama over McCain, Obama led with double-digit margins.
In comparison to the 2004 presidential elections, Asian Americans voted for the Democratic presidential candidate over the Republican candidate at nearly identical rates. For example, in New York, 74% of Asian Americans voted for Senator Kerry and 23% voted for President Bush in the 2004 Elections. Four years earlier, 68% of Asian Americans voted for Kerry and 30% voted for Bush.
First-Time Voting
First-time voters favored Barack Obama by a significant margin. Eighty-one percent of first-time Asian American voters supported Obama and 18% voted for McCain. In contrast, 69% of first-time voters voted for Obama, and 30% voted for McCain in the overall electorate.8 Similarly, in the 2004 Presidential Elections, 78% of Asian Americans who were voting for the first time supported Senator Kerry compared to 53% of all first-time voters.
Asian American Vote for President
Seventeen percent (17%) of Asian Americans registered as Republicans voted for Barack Obama, whereas only 7% of Asian Americans registered as Democrats voted for John McCain.
Asian Americans crossed over and voted at similar rates in 2004. Seven percent (7%) of Asian Democrats voted for George Bush and 18% of Asian Republicans for John Kerry.
The Vote by Age
Younger Asian Americans voted for Barack Obama by much greater margins than older Asian Americans. Among 18-29 year olds, 88% voted for Obama and 11% for McCain. Obama’s support was greatest among native-born Asian American voters, with 87% voting for Obama. Native-born Asian Americans were only 21% of all respondents, while foreign-born Asian Americans were 79% of those polled. Seventy-three percent (73%) of foreign-born Asian Americans supported Obama. Eighty-nine percent (89%) of Asian American respondents who voted for McCain were naturalized in the U.S. Over half (54%) of McCain’s supporters immigrated to the U.S. more than ten years ago.
As voters’ citizenship tenure lengthened, support for Obama decreased. Eighty-nine percent (89%) of Asian American respondents who voted for McCain were
Asian American
Limited English Proficiency
Obama’s support was greatest among fully English proficient Asian American voters, with 82% of voters who read English “very well” voting for Obama and 17% for McCain. Among Asian Americans who voted for Obama, 72% read English very well, whereas just over a quarter
(28%) of his supporters were limited English proficient. In contrast, over half (51%) of Asian Americans who supported McCain were limited English proficient.
Vote for Congress
AALDEF’s exit poll was conducted in 45 congressional districts. Overall, Asian Americans overwhelmingly voted for Democratic congressional candidates over Republican candidates in the November 2008 General Elections. Thirty of the 45 congressional districts surveyed showed the majority of Asian Americans supporting Democratic congressional candidates. Of the congressional races covered, 21 candidates were elected with the majority support of Asian Americans. Summary of the Asian American Vote
AALDEF’s exit poll data shows that younger, U.S.-born, more recently naturalized, and English proficient Asian American citizens voted for Barack Obama for President by wide margins. The three most important issues influencing Asian Americans in their vote for President were Economy/Jobs (66%), Health Care (40%), and Foreign Policy/War in Iraq (31%). Economy/Jobs was the top choice for all Asian ethnic groups surveyed. Most Asian ethnic groups identified Health Care as the second most important factor influencing their vote for President.
Health Care
Overall, Asian American respondents who were limited English proficient were more worried about foreclosure than those who were not limited English proficient.
Language Assistance
Asian Americans identified English as their native language; 35% said that they were limited English proficient.
Over a quarter (26%) of Chinese and Southeast Asian respondents and 21% of Korean respondents prefer voting with an interpreter or translated materials. Certain jurisdictions in AALDEF’s exit poll are required by Section 203 to provide Asian language assistance - such as translated ballots, instructions, and other voting materials as well as interpreters - at poll sites. Other jurisdictions in Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania voluntarily provide language assistance, most often in the form of interpreters at selected poll sites for particular Asian language minority voters. Furthermore, 43% of native Chinese speakers in Brooklyn preferred to vote with language assistance. In Boston, Massachusetts, almost half (49%) of native Chinese speakers surveyed preferred voting with language assistance. In Philadelphia, almost two-thirds (63%) of native Chinese speakers are LEP with 41% preferring to vote with language assistance. In Annandale, Virginia, Korean Americans exhibited the highest level of LEP voters (78%) based on native language and surveyed locality. In Cook County Illinois, 43% of voters whose native language was Korean preferred voting with language assistance. The Asian American population has surged throughout the United States. Greater outreach is needed, especially to limited English proficient and older Asian American voters. Moreover, Asian Americans have encountered many voting barriers. AALDEF’s exit poll shows that Asian Americans strongly supported President Obama in the 2008 Elections. Moreover, Asian Americans expect the new administration to address issues regarding Economy/Jobs, Health Care, and Foreign Policy/War in Iraq, which Asian Americans overall agree are the most significant issues. It is also clear from AALDEF’s exit poll that many congressional representatives received strong support from their Asian American constituents.
(Source: Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Report of the exit poll survey)
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund99 Hudson Street • 12th floor • New York • New York 10013-2815
AND EDUCATION FUND
THE ASIAN AMERICAN VOTE
IN THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
By Harish Trivedi
Here is a brief summary of the survey of exit polls conducted by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) that was published last week
The states that were surveyed included NY, NJ, MA, PA, VA, MD, DC, MI, IL, LA, TX, NV
Ohio was not among the states that were survey.
On Election Day, November 4, 2008, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) dispatched 1,500 attorneys, law students and community volunteers to poll sites in 11 states and conducted a nonpartisan multilingual exit poll of 16,665 Asian American voters.
AALDEF’s exit poll was the nation’s largest survey of Asian American voters and covered 113 poll sites in 39 cities. The exit poll was conducted in English and twelve Asian languages. Asian American voters often are overlooked by the mainstream media and by candidates for political office. When the media neglect the Asian American vote, candidates often follow suit. When they do report on the Asian American vote, the data may be skewed because respondents were surveyed only in English.
Multilingual exit polls give a fuller and more accurate portrait of Asian American voters than polls conducted only in English. AALDEF’s exit poll reveals details about the Asian American community including voter preferences on candidates, political parties, language needs, and other issues of vital importance to our community.
Profile of Respondents
The six largest Asian ethnic groups polled in 2008 were Chinese (32%), South Asian (32%), Korean (14%), Southeast Asian (9%), and Filipino (5%). South Asian includes Asian Indians, Bangladeshis, Indo- Caribbeans, Pakistanis, and Sri Lankans. Southeast Asian includes Cambodians, Indonesians, Laotians, Thais, and Vietnamese. Democratic Majority
A clear majority (58%) of Asian Americans were registered Democrats, 26% were not enrolled in any political party, and 13% of Asian Americans were registered Republicans. Party crossover voting heavily favored Democrats. A larger proportion of Asian American Republicans crossed party lines to vote for Obama than did Asian American Democrats voting for McCain. Moreover, the vast majority of Asian Americans not enrolled in a party voted for Obama.
During the presidential election, Asian Americans voted as a bloc for the same candidates and identified common reasons for their votes. Economy/Jobs was the dominant issue influencing the Asian American vote for President (66%) followed by Health Care (40%), Foreign Policy/War in Iraq (31%), Education (27%), and Civil Rights/Immigration Rights (23%).
AALDEF’s exit poll revealed that many Asian Americans, especially those who were limited English proficient, were concerned with losing their homes because of foreclosure.
Language Access
One in five (20%) voters identified English as their native language. In the 2008 elections, 43% of respondents who were limited English proficient preferred to use some form of language assistance to vote.
Voting Barriers
AALDEF poll monitors received more than 800 complaints of voting problems. Asian American voters also faced long lines, a lack of Asian-language assistance, poll books with missing voter names, and machine breakdowns.
On November 4, 2008, AALDEF surveyed 16,665 Asian American voters at 113 poll sites in 39 cities across eleven states - New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas, and Nevada - and Washington, D.C.
Poll sites with large concentrations of Asian American voters were selected using voter registration files, census data, and interviews with local elections officials and community leaders. Poll sites with a history of voting problems were also selected. Volunteer exit pollsters were stationed at poll sites.
Survey questionnaires were written in twelve Asian languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Punjabi, Tagalog, Urdu, and Vietnamese, in addition to English. One in four respondents (25%) completed Asian language questionnaires, while 75% completed the English version.
PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS
Ethnicity
Survey respondents were Chinese (32%), Asian Indian (15%), Korean (14%), Bangladeshi (8%); the remaining respondents were of other Asian ethnicities and were multiracial or multiethnic Asians.
Language
While 20% of respondents identified English as their native language, 27% identified one or more Chinese dialects as their native language (including Cantonese, Mandarin), 24% spoke one or more South Asian languages (including Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu), 12% spoke Korean, 8% spoke one or more Southeast Asian languages (including Vietnamese, Khmer, Lao), 4% spoke Tagalog, 3% spoke Arabic, and 2% identified another Asian language as their native language. Fifteen percent (15%) identified English as their native language. Among Korean voters, 81% selected Korean as their native language, while 18% identified English as their native language. Among South Asian voters, 27% selected Bengali as their native language, 11% selected Gujarati, 11% selected Urdu, 7% selected Hindi, and 5% selected Punjabi. Thirteen percent (13%) of South Asian voters spoke multiple South Asian languages or other South Asian languages, including Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam, and Marathi. Twenty-four percent (24%) identified English as their native language.
Limited English Proficiency
Thirty-five percent (35%) of Asian voters surveyed said they read English less than “very well.” Of all language groups, native Korean-speaking voters exhibited the highest rate of limited English proficiency, with 66% indicating that they have at least some difficulty reading English. In Chicago, Illinois, 81% of native Korean-speaking respondents were limited English proficient. In Boston, Massachusetts, 70% of native Chinese speakers and 54% of native Vietnamese speakers were limited English proficient. In Queens, New York, 58% of native Chinese speakers and 75% of native Korean speakers were limited
English proficient.
Forty-three percent (43%) of all respondents who were limited English proficient reported that they preferred voting with the help of an interpreter or translated voting materials. Groups with significant rates of limited English proficiency also exhibited a high propensity towards the use of an interpreter or translated voting
Thirty-one percent (31%) of native Chinese speakers, 28% of native Khmer speakers, and 27% of native Vietnamese speakers preferred to use some form of language assistance while voting.
Foreign Born
The groups with the highest rates of foreign-born, naturalized citizens were South Asians (87%), Koreans (83%), and Southeast Asians (83%). respondents at 55%, 57%, and 54% respectively.
Korean respondents, had no formal education in the U.S., the highest rate among all Asian ethnic groups surveyed.
First-Time Voting
Thirty-one percent (31%) of all Asian American voters surveyed stated that they voted for the first time in the November 2008 Presidential Elections. Ethnicity %
Indo-Caribbean 90%
Pakistani 88%
Vietnamese 86%
Korean 83%
Asian Indian 82%
All Asian Americans 79%
Chinese 74%
Filipino 74%
Party Affiliation
The majority of Asian Americans surveyed (58%) were registered Democrats, 13% were registered Republicans, and 3% were enrolled in other parties. Twenty-six percent (26%) of all Asian American respondents were not enrolled in any political party. South Asian voters were enrolled in the Democratic Party at higher rates than all other Asian ethnic groups.
Vote for President
THE ASIAN AMERICAN VOTE
AALDEF’s multilingual exit poll revealed that Asian Americans favored Barack Obama over John McCain, 76% to 23%, in the historic election of the nation’s first African American President. First-time voters and South Asian Americans demonstrated even stronger support for Obama. Vote for President by Ethnicity
Generally, Asian Americans demonstrated political unity, even across ethnic lines. With only one exception - Vietnamese American voters - each Asian ethnic group voted as a bloc for Obama. Ninety-three percent (93%) of South Asian American voters supported Barack Obama. In contrast, Vietnamese American voters gave McCain the strongest support of all Asian ethnic groups at 67%. 18-29 years old voted for Obama. In previous presidential elections, South Asian voters have supported the Democratic presidential candidates most strongly of all Asian ethnic groups. In the 2000 presidential elections, 80% of South Asians voted for the Democratic candidate Al Gore.6 In 2004, 90% voted for Democratic candidate Senator John Kerry. With 73% of Chinese Americans and 64% of Korean Americans supporting Obama in 2008, 72% of Chinese voters and 66% of Korean voters supported Senator Kerry in the 2004 elections. In 2000, the majority of Chinese and Korean Americans voted for Al Gore at 79% and 80% respectively.
Vote for President by State
Asian Americans in Michigan, Massachusetts, and New York were among the strongest supporters for Obama, whereas Asian Americans in Louisiana and Texas strongly supported McCain, largely because of the high number of Vietnamese voters surveyed. In states where Asian American voters supported Obama over McCain, Obama led with double-digit margins.
In comparison to the 2004 presidential elections, Asian Americans voted for the Democratic presidential candidate over the Republican candidate at nearly identical rates. For example, in New York, 74% of Asian Americans voted for Senator Kerry and 23% voted for President Bush in the 2004 Elections. Four years earlier, 68% of Asian Americans voted for Kerry and 30% voted for Bush.
First-Time Voting
First-time voters favored Barack Obama by a significant margin. Eighty-one percent of first-time Asian American voters supported Obama and 18% voted for McCain. In contrast, 69% of first-time voters voted for Obama, and 30% voted for McCain in the overall electorate.8 Similarly, in the 2004 Presidential Elections, 78% of Asian Americans who were voting for the first time supported Senator Kerry compared to 53% of all first-time voters.
Asian American Vote for President
Seventeen percent (17%) of Asian Americans registered as Republicans voted for Barack Obama, whereas only 7% of Asian Americans registered as Democrats voted for John McCain.
Asian Americans crossed over and voted at similar rates in 2004. Seven percent (7%) of Asian Democrats voted for George Bush and 18% of Asian Republicans for John Kerry.
The Vote by Age
Younger Asian Americans voted for Barack Obama by much greater margins than older Asian Americans. Among 18-29 year olds, 88% voted for Obama and 11% for McCain. Obama’s support was greatest among native-born Asian American voters, with 87% voting for Obama. Native-born Asian Americans were only 21% of all respondents, while foreign-born Asian Americans were 79% of those polled. Seventy-three percent (73%) of foreign-born Asian Americans supported Obama. Eighty-nine percent (89%) of Asian American respondents who voted for McCain were naturalized in the U.S. Over half (54%) of McCain’s supporters immigrated to the U.S. more than ten years ago.
As voters’ citizenship tenure lengthened, support for Obama decreased. Eighty-nine percent (89%) of Asian American respondents who voted for McCain were
Asian American
Limited English Proficiency
Obama’s support was greatest among fully English proficient Asian American voters, with 82% of voters who read English “very well” voting for Obama and 17% for McCain. Among Asian Americans who voted for Obama, 72% read English very well, whereas just over a quarter
(28%) of his supporters were limited English proficient. In contrast, over half (51%) of Asian Americans who supported McCain were limited English proficient.
Vote for Congress
AALDEF’s exit poll was conducted in 45 congressional districts. Overall, Asian Americans overwhelmingly voted for Democratic congressional candidates over Republican candidates in the November 2008 General Elections. Thirty of the 45 congressional districts surveyed showed the majority of Asian Americans supporting Democratic congressional candidates. Of the congressional races covered, 21 candidates were elected with the majority support of Asian Americans. Summary of the Asian American Vote
AALDEF’s exit poll data shows that younger, U.S.-born, more recently naturalized, and English proficient Asian American citizens voted for Barack Obama for President by wide margins. The three most important issues influencing Asian Americans in their vote for President were Economy/Jobs (66%), Health Care (40%), and Foreign Policy/War in Iraq (31%). Economy/Jobs was the top choice for all Asian ethnic groups surveyed. Most Asian ethnic groups identified Health Care as the second most important factor influencing their vote for President.
Health Care
Overall, Asian American respondents who were limited English proficient were more worried about foreclosure than those who were not limited English proficient.
Language Assistance
Asian Americans identified English as their native language; 35% said that they were limited English proficient.
Over a quarter (26%) of Chinese and Southeast Asian respondents and 21% of Korean respondents prefer voting with an interpreter or translated materials. Certain jurisdictions in AALDEF’s exit poll are required by Section 203 to provide Asian language assistance - such as translated ballots, instructions, and other voting materials as well as interpreters - at poll sites. Other jurisdictions in Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania voluntarily provide language assistance, most often in the form of interpreters at selected poll sites for particular Asian language minority voters. Furthermore, 43% of native Chinese speakers in Brooklyn preferred to vote with language assistance. In Boston, Massachusetts, almost half (49%) of native Chinese speakers surveyed preferred voting with language assistance. In Philadelphia, almost two-thirds (63%) of native Chinese speakers are LEP with 41% preferring to vote with language assistance. In Annandale, Virginia, Korean Americans exhibited the highest level of LEP voters (78%) based on native language and surveyed locality. In Cook County Illinois, 43% of voters whose native language was Korean preferred voting with language assistance. The Asian American population has surged throughout the United States. Greater outreach is needed, especially to limited English proficient and older Asian American voters. Moreover, Asian Americans have encountered many voting barriers. AALDEF’s exit poll shows that Asian Americans strongly supported President Obama in the 2008 Elections. Moreover, Asian Americans expect the new administration to address issues regarding Economy/Jobs, Health Care, and Foreign Policy/War in Iraq, which Asian Americans overall agree are the most significant issues. It is also clear from AALDEF’s exit poll that many congressional representatives received strong support from their Asian American constituents.
(Source: Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Report of the exit poll survey)
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund99 Hudson Street • 12th floor • New York • New York 10013-2815
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