May is AAPI Heritage Month.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Kansans have long been a part of the diverse fabric that makes the Midwest. And in recent years, the Kansas AAPI Citizen Voting Age population (CVAP) has only grown, with estimates more than doubling from 20,260 CVAP in 2012-2016 to 57,929 CVAP in 2020-2024. Across the state you can find pockets of AAPI communities that have developed abundant communities through cultural facets like business, food, education and church. From the Vietnamese and Hmong communities of Northeast KCK, to the Chinese community of Wichita, AAPI Kansans have been building and growing strong social capital across the state.

While AAPI Kansans have been successful in developing community, educational and fiscal power, we have not yet managed to maximize our voting power for fair representation in statewide decision making. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are two of the fastest growing demographics in the Midwest, but we have not been able to secure fair and accurate representation in our Kansas state legislature. As of today, we’ve only had two AAPI members of the Kansas legislature, Raj Goyle (elected in 2007) and Representative Rui Xu (elected in 2018). Rep. Xiu was the first to propose the Asian American Pacific Islander Advisory Commission in the House, which unfortunately died in committee in 2021 and every year it’s been introduced since. The commission would have been dedicated towards addressing and serving “the needs of Asian-American Pacific Islanders especially in the areas of culture, education, employment, health, housing, welfare and recreation.” While the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission and the Kansas African Affairs Commission have been established since the 80s and 90s, this would have been the first committee of its kind developed for the purpose of advancing AAPI Kansans.

So how can we take action to advance our AAPI voting power for more fair and accurate representation?

While many Asian Americans are registered to vote, Asian American voter turnout is low. This could be for a number of reasons; Politicians neglecting to engage with AAPI constituencies, language barriers, perceptions that AAPI Kansans aren’t “real Kansans”. We also know that AAPI immigrants are hesitant to reveal personal sensitive information to government institutions, keeping our communities from receiving benefits accrued from government census data.

To increase civic trust and engagement in AAPI Kansans, we must push back against the false narrative that Asian American and Pacific Islander Kansans aren’t “real” Kansans. We have worked hard to not only contribute to our communities, but excel when it comes to economics, business, education and pop culture. We serve our communities; it’s time for our community resources to serve us.

And we know that when Asian Americans feel personally connected to the issues, they show up. 2020 was a unique historical moment for Asian American voters who recognized the rise of anti-Asian sentiment and the opportunity to elect a vice president of Asian descent. A 2022 study found that stronger perceptions of racial discrimination were related to higher voter turnout amongst Asian American immigrants in 2020.

Language Access

Asking for equitable access at the polls for Asian American and Pacific Islander Kansans is an ask for basic empathy and respect; Human qualities foundational to our Midwest values of giving your neighbor a helping hand.

This AAPI Heritage Month we are asking our Kansas neighbors for a helping hand. We are asking you to put yourself in the shoes of AAPI Kansas immigrants. Imagine becoming a citizen of a new country; Working hard, creating businesses, joining a local church, and learning the native language, but you just haven’t mastered it yet. That’s what many AAPI Kansans are dealing with today and yet are forced to choose between voting in a language they don’t fully understand or sitting out our elections completely.

Making voting easier for eligible citizens who use a language other than English ensures all Kansans, regardless of background, feel comfortable at the polls. It’s time our voting booths more accurately reflect the constituency they serve. AAPI Kansans deserve to see that we are recognized in our elections as respected voters and constituents. We deserve to be treated like full citizens who contribute incredibly to our communities. And that means making it easier to vote in a language we feel most comfortable using.

Join our fight for increased language access materials in our Kansas polls by contacting your representative today. Demand fair and accessible democracy for all Kansans, regardless of language preference. Because our representative democracy only works if it is truly representative of all.

References:

US Census Bureau. (2016). Citizen Voting Age Population by Race and Ethnicity. Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/voting-rights/cvap.2016.html#list-tab-1518558936

Chan, N., Nguy, J. H., & Masuoka, N. (2022). The Asian American Vote in 2020: Indicators of Turnout and Vote Choice. Political Behavior, 46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11109-022-09844-9