FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Asian American Voter Empowerment Project (AAVEP) Launched to Increase Voter Turnout in Los Angeles
Today, the Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California (PWC), LEAD Filipino, and Asian Business Association Foundation, with the support of CAUSE, AAPI’s for Equity, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ), and local leaders and residents announced the launch of the Asian American Voter Empowerment Project [AAVEP], a major and comprehensive site-based voter registration program across Los Angeles.
The launch of AAVEP is a non-partisan and site-based voter registration program to be spearheaded by multiple Filipina/x/o and Asian American serving nonprofit organizations that will aim to register eligible Asian American voters historically excluded from voter registration and education efforts with the densely populated and often hard-to-reach areas of Los Angeles.
Asian Americans are among one of the fastest growing ethnic groups, with more than 18 million living in the United States today. We represent the country’s fastest growing voting bloc, achieving record highs in the 2020 presidential election and 2022 local elections. In California, Asian American communities hold a 16.3% share of the electorate with the citizen voting age population in Los Angeles standing over 1 million. Despite these statistics, gaps in voter contact with Asian communities continues to create disparities. In the 2022 Asian American Voter Survey, 56% of Asian Americans reported receiving no contact or were unsure if they received contact about the election.
The voice of Asian American Angelenos must be an equitable part of the decision making process of Los Angeles to be a successful and thriving city. The Asian American Voter Empowerment Project will support our community to overcome language and other barriers to participation through outreach and education that is designed for the specific cultures and diversities of our community
Aquilina Soriano Versoza, Executive Director of PWC.
Today with clipboards in hand, AAVEP organizers began registering hundreds of eligible voters in Los Angeles, particularly focused on engaging Asian Americans ahead of the 2024 elections. The voter registration program efforts will strive to register a majority of eligible voters that identify as Asian American or with an Asian ethnic background.
AAVEP will engage constituents of color who disproportionately face barriers to voting. AAVEP’s voter registration efforts will help strengthen engagement in the electoral process so that more eligible voters can participate in and be represented in our democracy. The official launch will take place on Saturday, May 20th, 2023 at Eagle Rock Plaza at 12PM.
To learn more about AAVEP and how to get involved, visit their website at www.aavep.org.
Follow AAVEP on Instagram
@asianamvote
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Contact Information:
LEAD Filipino
Angelica Cortez
408.614.8734
angelica@leadfilipino.org
