THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS THE CORNERSTONE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
Our voice. Our nation. Our vote.
SikhVOTE 2024
Since 2012, SikhVOTE has been one of SALDEF’s most impactful initiatives. The right to vote is at the cornerstone of American democracy, and we want to ensure that the Sikh American voice is heard on Capitol Hill, state capitals and towns throughout the country.
SikhVOTE is a community-wide voter engagement and voter turnout initiative that encourages civic participation through voter education efforts for Sikh Americans.
Why is it Important for Sikh Americans to Vote?
In 1923, the Supreme Court ruled in a landmark case (United States vs. Bhagat Singh Thind) that Sikh Americans could not become citizens, thus we could not vote, and were denied a voice in our country. To have the right to vote today and to not use it means that Sikh American civil rights heroes and activists in the decades since 1923 have done their work in vain.
Today, we have the right to vote, make our voices heard, and determine the future of our nation.
Through voting, we can influence the decisions our elected officials make that directly affect us. Increasing the number of Sikh Americans registered to vote is one of the best ways to build and strengthen our community’s voice, presence, and political capacity.
Across the country, a new era of voter suppression sweeps states with populations that need this constitutional right the most. With fewer polling locations, reduced open polling hours, and vote-by-mail restrictions, these measures have targeted communities of color, including Sikh Americans. Additionally, as our nation grapples with salient issues such as healthcare, gun control, anti-AAPI hate, and more, there has never been a more appropriate time to organize and mobilize so that we can protect our communities and American Democracy.
What We Do
- Conduct in-person voter education and registration drives at the gurdwara and local community centers
- Ensure Sikhs have up-to-date information regarding voting rights and regulations
- Collaborate with local election offices to ensure we provide the latest and accurate information to the community about the registration process, deadlines, voting places, etc.
- Leverage our relationships with various non-partisan and national organizations to increase voter turnout
- Provide remote training and support to various community centers throughout America
- Train community volunteers in phone banking and voter registration sign-ups
- Create informational materials in both English and Punjabi to disseminate to sangat members
Our Impact By the Numbers
- Creating and distributing thousands of free English and Punjabi materials, including t-shirts, buttons, wristbands, posters, and educational materials
- Reaching over 4,500 Sikh Americans in California and Virginia by phone in Punjabi, as part of the first ever non-partisan Punjabi language, phone-banking voter education effort to provide them with non-partisan information on registration, polling places, and reminders to vote
- Registering hundreds of first-time voters across the country in special events in California, Virginia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Texas
- Training over 25 youth leaders who recruited volunteers to run a 10-week voter registration and engagement plan in their community
- Publishing a voter registration toolkit downloaded by dozens of volunteers across the country
- Launching online registration and social media toolkits with community partners
- Working with community partners to host and webcast the second Asian Pacific Islander American Presidential Town hall
- Seeing a 51% increase in the number of votes cast by Asian Americans, including members of the Sikh-American community
Community Outreach Across the Nation
Disclaimer: SikhVOTE is a non-partisan, non-profit voter registration and engagement program of SALDEF. It is not supported by, conducted in coordination with, or support of any candidate or candidate’s committee. SikhVOTE is supported by Asian Pacific Islander American Vote.