As the November 5 U.S. presidential elections approach, an Indian diaspora organization is spearheading a campaign to boost the influence and engagement of Indian-American voters. The initiative, named “Indo American Votes Matter,” is launched by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), aiming to highlight the crucial role this community can play in shaping the nation’s future.
FIIDS emphasizes that with around 4.5 million Indo-Americans residing across the U.S., their votes are increasingly pivotal in the 2024 elections. Concentrated in key swing states like Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, the Indo-American electorate holds the potential to sway critical races. The campaign aims to leverage this influence by focusing on both domestic and global policy issues important to the Indian-American community.
A comprehensive survey will be conducted to gather the views of Indian-Americans on significant policy matters. Khanderao Kand, FIIDS’s chief of policy and strategy, notes that the sizable presence of Indian-Americans in crucial swing states presents a unique opportunity to make a substantial impact. He stresses that both the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) should consider the policy preferences of this demographic. Through an extensive voter registration effort, the campaign aims to mobilize over a million Indian-American voters in this election.
