Despite being the fastest-growing racial and ethnic group in the US, Asians have lower voter turnout compared to other ethnic groups. In the years 2000 to 2012, AAPI voters nearly doubled from 2 million to 3.9 million voters. However, this only constitutes one part of the total population. At the moment, only 56% of young Asian Americans are registered to vote – far below the number of voters in other racial and ethnic groups.
Low voter turnout means that politicians pay less attention to Asian Americans. This means that they will be less recognized in national politics, which has a detrimental effect on the community. Representation matters, especially for minority communities, because of their unique experiences in the world. Being active in politics is essential in making sure the community’s rights are heard. Asian-Americans are caught between two cultures and must negotiate their identities. The struggle is exacerbated by the fact that there are many preconceived assumptions and stereotypes about Asians. Asian-Americans must feel supported in society, which is achieved through political representation. With the future in the hands of the youth, they must have power to change the world. Young people have already experienced many injustices within their communities, like poverty and the effects of climate change. As such, they should be proactive in society – voting is one way in which change can happen and Asian Americans could be more represented on a national level.