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Strengthening South Asian Communities in the United States

Elections 2008

South Asian Community Needs and Policy Issues Presented to Presidential Transition Members

Immigration Priorities for the South Asian Community

Civil Rights Transition Paper

This month, South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)  has been focused on presenting information about policy needs and concerns facing South Asian communities to members of the Presidential Transition Team.  In particular, SAALT has provided information to members of the Immigration Policy Working Group; the Civil Rights and Justice Agency Review Team (regarding post 9/11 civil rights issues); and to senior Asian Americans with the Transition Team during a meeting with national Asian American and Pacific Islander community leaders. 

SAALT consulted with members of the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations [LINK NCSO] in presenting information to the transition team and relied upon the NCSO’s National Action Agenda, a policy platform that articulates 9 policy priorities and provides policy recommendations.

SAALT in '08
    Amplifying the South Asian voice in the elections and beyond

This election marked a turning point in the participation of South Asian American citizens in the American democracy.  We witnessed robust South Asian voter turnout at the polls on Election Day; steady involvement with political campaigns; and bids for local and national office on the part of South Asians.  We encourage South Asians around the country to continue to vigorously engage in all aspects of civic life, and to lend our voices and energy to creating change in our communities.

 
SAALT  has helped the South Asian community engage in the elections in a variety of ways:
SAALT will continue to advocate for South Asians and encourage civic engagement beyond the 2008 Elections through a report on voting trends and barriers in the South Asian community, a post-election webinar, and more.

Understand and share information about the elections process: Check out the following factsheets.  We encourage you to share them in your voter education efforts locally and with friends and family members:

Elections '08: Know Your Rights on Election Day  answers six questions about protecting  your right to vote  on Election Day and where to turn if your rights are violated

Elections ’08: How Do I Get Involved? lists 10 ways everyone (citizens and noncitizens) can get engaged during this election cycle and make a difference!

Elections ’08: A Roadmap is a simple, easy-to-follow guide to the elections process and it can help you answer age-old questions like “what is a caucus?” or “what do superdelegates do?”

Translated into: Hindi, Punjabi, Bangla, Urdu, and Tamil

Policy Brief: Civil Rights and Immigrant Rights focuses on two policy issues being discussed this election year

You can get more information about SAALT’s work around the elections here or by contacting us at saalt@saalt.org, or (301) 270-1855.  Also check out the SAALT Spot, our new blog, (www.saalt.org/blogs) for news, updates and commentary about the elections and more!

Copyright 2009 SAALT. All rights reserved.