On the Ground in Georgia: Why the AAPI vote still counts

Here are pictures of the early voting lines in DeKalb County, in Atlanta, GA on Wednesday, November 26th. It’s about 6 PM, the night before Thanksgiving. The lines are stretching into three rooms — perhaps 200 to 300 people. Earlier in the day, there’s a wait of over an hour (but at this time of day, it’s only twenty minutes).

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This is in Cantonese with Chinese subtitles, so apologies in advance to those who aren’t Chinese-language speakers! Anyone out there who can provide a translation?

We received this e-mail from Filipinos for Obama - find out how you can continue to support and stay informed of their efforts by signing up at the links below!

Today, our future bends toward progress. One week ago, our nation has decisively chosen Barack Obama as our president, to blaze a new path toward inclusiveness and prosperity. As Filipino Americans, we have poured our passion, sacrifice and labor to renew hope for our country.

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A beautiful testimonial from VA AAPI Field Director Bao Nguyen - thank you to Bao and to VA for making this happen! :)

This journey has been incredibly tiring and I have spent the last few days resting and reminiscing about it all. With that said, I wanted to thank you all for being part of this amazing journey. We were able to turn Virginia Blue for the first time in 44 years, we were able to put this country in the right direction again, and we were all a part of history as we helped elect the nation’s first African-American President. This could not have happened without all your efforts.

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A lot of Asian Americans are traveling far from home to do everything they can in this crucial election. My friend Brian Kim, a Bay Area lawyer, traveled to Reno, Nevada last week to be a Democratic poll watcher at an early voting station. He wrote a great note about his experience, which I’m reproducing here with his permission.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, I went to Washoe County, Nevada to do poll protection work for the Democratic Party. I decided to do it because I was driving myself crazy watching and thinking about the campaign 24-7 like everyone else I know. I really admired my friends (you know who you are) who have poured all of themselves into the Obama campaign, which because of work and family obligations I haven’t been able to do. I also wanted to do something for a targeted period of time where my training as a lawyer would have some value. Luckily, my boss had done poll protection in 2004 and he supported my decision to take days off for poll protection 100%. 

I had a great time despite some long hours and tedium, and the experience made me think about voting in a way that I never had previously when I just cast my own ballot. It also made me appreciate those of you who are campaigning your hearts out and getting out the vote for Obama that much more. 

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Konrad Ng, Barack’s brother-in-law, made this short video encouraging everyone to get out the vote in the final days of this election.

It’s been an interesting week here in Florida, I’ve been here since last Sunday canvassing away. My roommate Jennifer arrived on Tuesday night, so it’s been nice to have a team since she arrived. I’ve met some great folks here like Arvind (below), who I got to talk to at the Boca Obama HQ today, so yah, I’m not the only Asian American volunteer in these parts! Arvind lives in the Boca Raton area, and has been volunteering on and off for about a month. Arvind told me “Obama is the right person for job, has sound judgment and he will change  perceptions around the world that whatever you want to be, you can be…especially for poorest people. Plus, Obama will improve the image of the US around the world…Although with India, it won’t make much of a difference in our diplomatic relations due to the Pakistan issues, diplomacy could still improve with an Obama administration…I think Florida will go blue unless there is corruption again…” Arvind’s sentiments closely mirror what I’ve heard from a lot of folks here, of all ages, races and backgrounds….

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Check out this inspiring video created by a diverse team of grassroots Obama supporters about Obama’s message of hope and unity:

Join us at the home of Virginia Davies to make calls to undecided voters in battleground states. Her beautiful home has hosted Senator Obama, President Clinton and DNC Chair Howard Dean.

Bring your cell phones and chargers:

Virginia Davies’ residence
299 W. 12th Street, #PHA
btw. Hudson St. & 9th Avenue (take L or A/C/E to 8th and 14th)
New York, NY 10014

Thursday, October 30th, 5:30-9:30PM
Saturday, November 1, 10AM-8PM
Sunday, November 2, 12-8PM
Monday-Tuesday, November 3-4, 10AM-9PM

MyBO link - http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptv7v.

We just received a request for poll monitors who speak Gujarati in Bensalem (Bucks County), PA to help out on Election Day. If you or anyone you know would be interested, please contact David Markus. His information is below.

David Evan Markus, Esq.
Deputy Director of Voter Protection
Campaign for Change — Pennsylvania
dmarkus@paforchange.com

30 South 15th Street, 9th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Office: 215.563.4429
Telecopier: 866.757.3627
Mobile: 914.552.9219