JACL partners with APIAVote and Power the Polls
to engage JACLers and help voter turnout.
Matthew Marumoto, JACL Daniel K. Inouye Policy Fellow
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander voters are the fastest-growing voter demographic in the U.S. (see https://tinyurl.com/mszth8wb). However, AANHPI voters are the least likely to be contacted by anyone about voting.
According to AAPI Data (see https://tinyurl.com/22ukz335), there are 16 million eligible AAPI voters in 2026, including 1.6 million newly eligible voters since 2022. The data shows potential, and JACL wants to turn those numbers into real voter turnout.
This fall, JACL is partnering with APIAVote and Power the Polls to engage JACLers and help turn out voters for the midterm elections. With APIAVote, we are holding two JACL phone banking sessions on the evenings of Oct. 14 and Oct. 28.
Throughout September and October, JACL is also looking for volunteers to staff the APIAVote Multilingual Voter Hotline, where voters can find their polling place, get information about voter registration or report problems at the polls. Both phone banking and hotline shifts can be done entirely remotely and last about three hours, with training provided.
Along with its partners at Power the Polls, JACL is also recruiting members to serve as poll workers to fill staffing gaps in polling locations across the country. There is no better way to learn how elections are administered and see democracy in action than from right where it’s happening. Most jurisdictions pay poll workers for training and work on Election Day.
Lastly, JACL is recruiting chapters to host voter registration drives at chapter events or in their local area. Third-party registration rules vary significantly by state, and JACL can provide information on how to set up a drive in your area.
The most important way to engage during the midterm election is to check your voter registration and make a plan to vote. Even if you’re sure you are registered, inactivity, address changes, list maintenance and voter roll purges can quickly turn Election Day confidence into dread.
Voter registration deadlines vary by state, with many falling in early October. If you are not already registered, register today!
Make a plan for how you are going to vote. If you are voting at the polls, note where the polling place is located, what hours it will be operating and what documentation you may need when you arrive.
If you are voting by mail, know your return deadline and whether your state’s deadline is by postmark or receipt, and ensure you mail your ballot or drop it off at a collection box by then. A ballot left on the dining room table is not a counted vote.
Finally, remind your friends, family, fellow JACLers and neighbors to check their voter registration and plan how they will vote. A reminder from someone you know will always be the most effective way to get your community to the polls and ensure their voices are heard.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, but the work of getting people to the polls starts now.
Sign-ups for every opportunity mentioned above and voting resources can be found at jacl.org/gotv.
The Japanese American Citizens League is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization and does not endorse, support or oppose any candidate for public office or political party. All voter engagement activities are open to eligible voters.