kasia
09-29-2006, 07:52 AM
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LEGAL CENTER -- PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Dan Ichinose, (213) 977-7500 x 249 or dichinose@apalc.org
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S ASIAN AMERICAN ELECTORATE GROWING RAPIDLY, NEW REPORT SHOWS
APALC Report Also Demonstrates Ongoing Need for GOTV Efforts, Language Assistance
LOS ANGELES, September 26, 2006 – Asian Americans are an increasingly large part of the electorate in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties, states a new report released by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC). According to Asian Americans at the Ballot Box, Asian Americans grew from 8% to 9% of all voters in Los Angeles County and 8% to 13% of all voters in Orange County between the 2000 and 2004 GeneralElections.
The report examines Asian American participation in the 2004 General Election and provides detailed information on the participation of Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese American voters.
"Asian American communities are growing dramatically and we're seeing that growth at the polls," said Stewart Kwoh, President and Executive Director of APALC. "Increasingly, candidates will have to speak to our issues if they expect to get elected." According to the report, Asian Americans make up a majority or near majority of all voters in Monterey Park in Los Angeles County and Westminster in Orange County and one-third of all voters in Alhambra, Cerritos, and Rosemead in Los Angeles County and Garden Grove in Orange County.
Despite this growth, Asian Americans have yet to realize their full political participation. While 78% of all registered voters in Los Angeles County and 73% of all registered voters in Orange County voted in the 2004 General Election, 71% of Asian Americans registered to vote in Los Angeles County and 68% of Asian Americans registered to vote in Orange County voted. Voter turnout was particularly low among Asian American youth. Only 57% of Asian Americans 18-24 years old registered to vote in Los Angeles County voted in the 2004 General Election.
The report also highlights Asian American voters' use of language assistance required under the Voting Rights Act. According to the report, 38% of Chinese, 48% of Korean, and 42% of Vietnamese Americans voters in Los Angeles County and 62% of Vietnamese American voters in Orange County used some form of language assistance to vote in the 2004 General Election.
Asian Americans at the Ballot Box can be found online at www.demographics.apalc.org.
Selected highlights of Asian Americans at the Ballot Box include:
Voter Turnout
o Nearly 272,000 Asian Americans in Los Angeles County and 138,000 Asian Americans in Orange County voted in the 2004 General Election.
o Between the 2000 and 2004 General Elections, the Asian American electorate grew 29% in Los Angeles County and 68% in Orange County. By comparison, the total electorate grew only 11% in Los Angeles County and 12% in Orange County.
o Between the 2000 and 2004 General Elections, Asian Americans grew from 8% to 9% of all voters inLos Angeles County and 8% to 13% of all voters in Orange County.
o While 71% of Asian Americans registered to vote in Los Angeles County voted, 68% of Asian Americans registered to vote in Orange County voted.
o Only 57% of Asian American youth registered to vote in Los Angeles County voted.
Support for Candidates, Ballot Measures
o 59% of Asian American voters in Los Angeles County supported John Kerry for President, while Asian American voters in Orange County split their support between George Bush (50%) and Kerry (49%).
o Among those without party affiliation, 61% of Asian American voters in Los Angeles County and 53% of Asian American voters in Orange County supported John Kerry for President.
o 60% of Asian American voters in Los Angeles County and 52% of Asian American voters in Orange County supported a ballot measure (Proposition 72) that would have required larger businesses to provide health care insurance coverage to employees.
Language Assistance
o 40% of Asian American voters in Los Angeles County and 37% of Asian American voters in Orange County are limited English proficient.
o Among ethnic groups, a majority of Korean (62%) and Vietnamese (54%) American voters in Los Angeles County and Vietnamese (59%) American voters in Orange County are limited English proficient.
o In Los Angeles County, 38% of Chinese, 48% of Korean, and 42% of Vietnamese American voters used some form of language assistance to vote. In Orange County, 62% of Vietnamese American voters used some form of language assistance to vote.
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Contact: Dan Ichinose, (213) 977-7500 x 249 or dichinose@apalc.org
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S ASIAN AMERICAN ELECTORATE GROWING RAPIDLY, NEW REPORT SHOWS
APALC Report Also Demonstrates Ongoing Need for GOTV Efforts, Language Assistance
LOS ANGELES, September 26, 2006 – Asian Americans are an increasingly large part of the electorate in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties, states a new report released by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC). According to Asian Americans at the Ballot Box, Asian Americans grew from 8% to 9% of all voters in Los Angeles County and 8% to 13% of all voters in Orange County between the 2000 and 2004 GeneralElections.
The report examines Asian American participation in the 2004 General Election and provides detailed information on the participation of Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese American voters.
"Asian American communities are growing dramatically and we're seeing that growth at the polls," said Stewart Kwoh, President and Executive Director of APALC. "Increasingly, candidates will have to speak to our issues if they expect to get elected." According to the report, Asian Americans make up a majority or near majority of all voters in Monterey Park in Los Angeles County and Westminster in Orange County and one-third of all voters in Alhambra, Cerritos, and Rosemead in Los Angeles County and Garden Grove in Orange County.
Despite this growth, Asian Americans have yet to realize their full political participation. While 78% of all registered voters in Los Angeles County and 73% of all registered voters in Orange County voted in the 2004 General Election, 71% of Asian Americans registered to vote in Los Angeles County and 68% of Asian Americans registered to vote in Orange County voted. Voter turnout was particularly low among Asian American youth. Only 57% of Asian Americans 18-24 years old registered to vote in Los Angeles County voted in the 2004 General Election.
The report also highlights Asian American voters' use of language assistance required under the Voting Rights Act. According to the report, 38% of Chinese, 48% of Korean, and 42% of Vietnamese Americans voters in Los Angeles County and 62% of Vietnamese American voters in Orange County used some form of language assistance to vote in the 2004 General Election.
Asian Americans at the Ballot Box can be found online at www.demographics.apalc.org.
Selected highlights of Asian Americans at the Ballot Box include:
Voter Turnout
o Nearly 272,000 Asian Americans in Los Angeles County and 138,000 Asian Americans in Orange County voted in the 2004 General Election.
o Between the 2000 and 2004 General Elections, the Asian American electorate grew 29% in Los Angeles County and 68% in Orange County. By comparison, the total electorate grew only 11% in Los Angeles County and 12% in Orange County.
o Between the 2000 and 2004 General Elections, Asian Americans grew from 8% to 9% of all voters inLos Angeles County and 8% to 13% of all voters in Orange County.
o While 71% of Asian Americans registered to vote in Los Angeles County voted, 68% of Asian Americans registered to vote in Orange County voted.
o Only 57% of Asian American youth registered to vote in Los Angeles County voted.
Support for Candidates, Ballot Measures
o 59% of Asian American voters in Los Angeles County supported John Kerry for President, while Asian American voters in Orange County split their support between George Bush (50%) and Kerry (49%).
o Among those without party affiliation, 61% of Asian American voters in Los Angeles County and 53% of Asian American voters in Orange County supported John Kerry for President.
o 60% of Asian American voters in Los Angeles County and 52% of Asian American voters in Orange County supported a ballot measure (Proposition 72) that would have required larger businesses to provide health care insurance coverage to employees.
Language Assistance
o 40% of Asian American voters in Los Angeles County and 37% of Asian American voters in Orange County are limited English proficient.
o Among ethnic groups, a majority of Korean (62%) and Vietnamese (54%) American voters in Los Angeles County and Vietnamese (59%) American voters in Orange County are limited English proficient.
o In Los Angeles County, 38% of Chinese, 48% of Korean, and 42% of Vietnamese American voters used some form of language assistance to vote. In Orange County, 62% of Vietnamese American voters used some form of language assistance to vote.
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