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Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare just how critical broadband access is to our everyday lives. This is especially true for Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Asian American unemployment rates are higher than their white counterparts, Asian students returning to in-person learning at lower rates due to fears of anti-Asian hate, and Pacific Islanders remain one of the most at-risk ethnic groups dying from COVID-19. Without reliable, high-speed internet access, accessing unemployment benefits, online learning, or healthcare becomes all the more out of reach. The digital divide in our communities is clearer now than ever before, and we cannot ignore the gap any longer.  

When the pandemic began, we quickly adapted to engage with friends, teachers, and colleagues in new and different ways – using technology like we never had before. As the pandemic raged on, and we grew closer to the 2020 Election, we turned to that same technology to reach voters in new ways as well.

Join us today in showing your solidarity in #StopAsianHate. The following toolkit is to serve as a reference for individuals, organizations and allied groups to #StopAsianHate. This initiative was first started by Congresswoman Grace Meng and California Assemblymember Evan Low. The continued violence and racism against Asian Americans have reached their highest levels in our lifetime and must STOP. Out of crisis comes opportunity to rally together, stand in solidarity, and demand action. 

As of 2020, a total of 22 states plus Washington, D.C. have enacted same-day registration. This allows any qualified resident of the state to go register and cast their ballot on the same day.

Michael Messina is a rising Senior at Binghamton University double majoring in Political Science and Physics. An Asian American transracial adoptee, Michael arrived at college and immersed himself in the Asian American community he knew so little about.

Are you planning on voting in November? Now is a good time to check your voter registration.

Here are a few ways you can assist APIAVote as we scale up our engagement to touch and empower as many voters as possible to register and vote by November 3rd.

The survey looked at voter response on issues from the upcoming election and discrimination in America to healthcare concerns around COVID-19 and support for affirmative action.

Sam Solemnidad (she/her) is a second-generation Filipino-American and also a rising third year at UCLA where she’s double majoring in Political Science and Asian American Studies.