On the heels of National Voter Registration Day (NVRD), LEAD Filipino has announced its multi-city Get out the FilAm Vote “Vote Loud, Vote Proud, Iboto Pilipino” campaign which includes voter registration events in Silicon Valley, Las Vegas, and San Antonio leading up to Election Day.
At a population of 4.4 million, Filipino Americans are one of the largest and fastest growing Asian ethnic groups in the United States. In 24 states, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Washington, Filipinos are among one of the largest Asian ethnic groups. Together, our communities comprise an estimated 20% of the entire Asian American population in the country. While we know that Asian American participation saw a boost in the 2020 General Election, current data collection methods make it difficult to make meaningful conclusions about Filipino American voter turnout rates.
“This is the most consequential election of our generation. Many of our members will be voting for the first time. We are not just pushing for voter turnout, we are setting the foundation to develop civic infrastructure for Filipino Americans nationwide so that we can continue to effectively engage with our democratic process,” shared Dr. Angelica Cortez, Executive Director of LEAD Filipino.
“Vote Loud, Vote Proud, Iboto Pilipino” will focus its efforts both digitally and in-person, with events across San Jose and Milpitas, the densest Filipino communities in Silicon Valley, Las Vegas, where the Filipino American population has exceeded 200,000; in San Antonio, where Filipinos represent less than 3% of the city’s overall Asian American population.
Nicolette Ardiente, Community Engagement Manager for Asian Texans for Justice and partner in Vote Loud, Vote Proud, Iboto Pilipino stated, “I am beyond excited for the first ever Get out the FilAm Vote multi-city tour to be launching from deep in the heart of Texas: San Antonio! Of the San Antonio Asian diaspora here, Filipinos made up the most populous of ethnic racial groups, comprising 25% of the population. As a proud Filipina living here in San Antonio, I know our community is going to make our voices here in the upcoming 2024 Election.”
Campaign activities will include digital resources, speaker panels, and voter registration events at colleges and other community-based venues and festivals throughout Filipino American History Month and up to November 5.
All attendees who register to vote or demonstrate that they are registered at Vote Loud, Vote Proud, Iboto Pilipino events will receive a limited edition t-shirt designed by award-winning Pinay artist, ChiChai Mateo.
LEAD Filipino will launch its campaign on Saturday, September 21 from 12-3PM at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), with its next stop on Saturday, October 5 from 12-3PM at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC) in San Antonio, with volunteer deputy registrars to register voters.
Since 2015, LEAD Filipino has organized to increase Filipino American civic engagement, grassroots leadership development, and health equity across communities. Driving major impact initiatives such as the Asian American Voter Empowerment Project (AAVEP), Filipino Cancer Survey in Santa Clara County, and the historic naming of Delano Manongs Park in San Jose, the organization works to translate the presence of Filipino Americans into community-based power.