Get out there and Vote!

The day has finally arrived. Today is the day where your voice, your vote, will be counted to decide who will lead our country over the next 4 years, and so much more. Having witnessed one of the most exciting and captivating political races this country has ever seen, for the past two years since the Presidential campaigns have kicked off, this country has definitely awakened to the challenge to vote and be heard.

With record breaking numbers already seen in early voting, numbers are estimated to be even higher at today's polls. Even more exciting, we've been seeing a lot of press on how segments of the APIA community will have a noticable effect on election results around the nation. With this election, we may see the Asian American vote become recognized as a substantial voting bloc that the major parties and politicians will absolutely need to engage effectively in future elections. In addition, with his family ties, there have been some musings around the blogosphere and press on how Obama may indirectly become the first Asian American President. This has got to be the most exciting and important election to be an Asian American voter to date.

Even with all the hubbub surrounding the race for the White House, there are even more reasons why your voice needs to be heard today. Among the many propositions on the ballot today, the basic civil right of our LGBT friends and family members to marry is being threatened in our state. Today may very well be a day that sees the culmination of progress in civil rights bridging multiple communities.

There are so many reasons to get out there to vote today. Don't miss out on your chance to be a participant in what will undoubtedly be a watershed moment for this nation.

APIA Vote Wants Your Help Protecting Voter's Rights

Our friends at APIA Vote need your help, if you're available and want to be more involved, check out the opportunities they're offering!


Immediate action needed if you're interested, so check it out or pass it along to people who may be interested.

Are you a California Attorney, Law Student, and/or Volunteer Looking to help protect voters' rights on November 4?

Volunteer to do Voter Protection in NEVADA w/ APIAVote!

APIAVote is working in coalition with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the AFL-CIO Voter Protection program in Las Vegas to ensure that AAPIs are treated fairly on Election Day and have the opportunity to voice their preferences and concerns.

You will monitor poll sites for compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Help America Vote Act. Volunteer attorneys check to see whether Asian-language voting assistance is provided (such as ballots, interpreters, signs and voting materials), whether voter identification requirements are implemented in a non-discriminatory manner, and whether provisional ballots are offered to voters whose names are not in voter lists.

TRAINING will be held at the following location and times:

When: Monday, November 3 at 2 PM, 4 PM and 6 PM
Where: Laborers Local 872- Suite 101, 4201 East Bonanza

HEADQUARTERS on Election Day:
Where: Laborers Local 872 -Suite 330, 4201 East Bonanza

TO SIGN UP OR FIND OUT MORE: Please email Kathleen at kathleen@apiavote.org or call 301-704-0536.

Interested in volunteering in other states? Please go to www.aaldef.org/vote2008 for a full list of polling sites nationwide.

Have you registered to vote yet?

Have you registered to vote yet? You have until October 20th, 2008 to register by mail in California.

This post was supposed to coincide with APIA Vote's Day of Action on October 4th to encourage people to register to vote in the next big election, but what can I say? I was too busy registering to vote to write this post yesterday. Whoops.

OK, not really. I've actually been registered to vote for years, but if you aren't also registered to vote, just like all those celebrities are saying in that YouTube clip above, you seriously should. This country has been going through some [*ahem*] tumultuous times lately, with the war and the economy being just two topics of discussion where you might have something to say. Even if you aren't too into politics, it never hurts to pay attention, and now is as good a time as ever to start participating civically. How else are we going to let the government and elected officials know when they're messing up? How else are we going to demonstrate our support for certain policies and laws over others? How is our generation going to even begin to deal with the mess all these old people made of our country/future? The first step of the solution is simple. You gotta vote.

I know my simplistic generalizations urging you to vote totally insult your intelligence, so if you need more information, I've put together a few useful links below:

Need information on how to get registered? Go to: http://www.maps.google.com/vote

Read up on Why Asian Americans should care about voting.

Need objective, non-partisan information to help you decide how you want to vote? Check out information provided by the League of Women Voters of California
or for information with more of a youth perspective, check out
Rock the Vote.

Although most Nakayoshi members are probably rooting for the same Presidential candidate come Election Day on November 4th, Nakayoshi cannot endorse specific candidates because our parent organization, JACL, is an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. That being said, there are certainly candidates and ballot initiatives you are welcome to stump for in the comments section. Are you involved with an issue or care about a ballot initiative or candidate in this coming election? Think we should know more about it? Leave a comment! Drop that knowledge bomb on us.

After reading this post, if you still need personal help registering to vote, let us know at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com and we'll do our best to get you registered. I'll bet I could even take off my bra from under my shirt like Sarah Silverman did in that video while we do it.

Ok kids. go register. go vote.