A Letter to Indian-American Voters of Georgia

Dear Indian American Voters of Georgia,

The 2020 November General Election will be one of the most important elections of our lifetimes. This election is a historic one, and thus necessitates our participation. The Indian American community has been used as a pawn for the Trump Administration (see the Trump campaign’s targeted ads for Indian American voters), our desires to attain the American Dream have been taken advantage of. It is more important than ever before to fight political oppression and to prioritize our family and community’s best interest. We must be cognizant of how our decisions will impact you and our Indian American community at large. Not only is our community’s well-being at stake this election, we also have the opportunity to shape our future and to protect our American Dream.

  • Vice Presidential Candidate Kamala Devi Harris, a half-Indian half-Jamaican American, is the first woman of color to be on the ticket for vice president. Her selection as a Vice President candidate, alone, is monumental for our community, but her lived experiences as the daughter of immigrants is what we should also focus on. Senator Harris in her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention details how her mother emphasized the importance of her Indian roots, and how her Indian heritage permeates into her daily life. We know that representation matters, when someone who carries similar lived experiences to us is in office, we can hope that they will use those experiences to help others in that position.

  • Democrats have favored increasing opportunities, and making it easier for our families to be reunited with our loved ones. In June 2020, President Trump froze green cards and halted H-1B visas, this new policy directly impacts the Indian-America community (USCIS 2020). Additionally, Republicans have supported policies that would make family-based immigration more difficult. As immigrants and children of immigrants, we would benefit greatly from being able to reunite with our families who are still in India, which seems more likely under Democratic leadership.

  • Democrats have prioritized making sure that we take care of one other, including the most vulnerable amongst us. While Republicans have made such programs such as Social Security, the Affordable Care Act, and COVID-19 relief efforts difficult to access, Democrats have made continuous efforts to defend these programs and efforts. The American Dream is dependent on America being the land of opportunity, these opportunities exist because of social welfare initiatives that the Democrats vow to secure.

In the 2016 election, Indian Americans were considered a loyal base within the Democratic party, with 77% of Indian Americans voting for Hillary Clinton. The 2016 election marked the highest numbers of Indian Americans coming out to vote and I hope to see the same momentum for this historic election as well. The Indian American vote is crucial in swing states, thus our consideration of the above mentioned points and participation in this election is more important than ever before. The Indian American community, as one of the largest immigrant groups in the United States, is an integral part of the American voice. We cannot risk voting for someone who does not carry our experiences and needs in mind. We deserve someone who will advocate for us and our community, and with Senator Kamala Harris, a candidate who has been exposed and integrated with our community throughout her life, there seems to be only one best choice. Advocate for yourself, advocate for your future, advocate for our community.

What can you do to advocate for yourself? There are 3 key dates for Georgia residents to remember:

  • Monday, October 12, 2020: Early Voting Begins

  • October 24 - October 25, 2020: The Last Weekend to Vote Early

  • Tuesday, November 3, 2020: Election Day for the General Election

This is our opportunity to make our voices heard. Explore the AAAF website for additional information about the upcoming election and the voting process. Stay safe, wear a mask, maintain social distance, and vote!

Let’s vote so that our voices are heard!

Sincerely,

Ritika Kumar, An Indian-American counting on you to vote


AAAF Staff