“It only takes a few minutes to register and vote.”

As the U.S. presidential election, which will shape the country's future for the next four years, approaches on November 5, along with the results of Korean-American political candidates that could mark a turning point for the political influence of the Korean community, California's voter registration deadline is today, October 21. There is an urgent call for Korean-American citizens who have not yet registered to do so and actively participate in the voting process.

With key elections for positions such as U.S. House of Representatives, state Senate and Assembly, and city councils in Korean-American-populated areas like Los Angeles and Irvine on the ballot, Korean-American candidates are conducting their final campaign pushes. The participation of every Korean-American voter could directly influence the success of these candidates. Moreover, a high turnout among Korean-Americans would, in itself, strengthen the political power of the community. Korean candidate campaigns and organizations are making a final push to encourage active participation from as many Korean-American voters as possible.

This year, Asian-Americans, including Korean-Americans, are seen as key “swing voters” due to their high population growth rate and voting participation, combined with a lesser tendency to align strongly with any one political party. These characteristics could make them pivotal in determining the outcome of the election. However, historically, voter registration and participation rates among Korean-Americans have been low, and community leaders emphasize that this election demands a much higher level of involvement to change that trend.

On October 21, the final day for voter registration, Korean-American organizations in the LA area are setting up a booth at the LED screen in front of Koreatown Plaza from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist with voter registration. They are also providing information on voting, including mail-in ballots and election-related details. California’s Secretary of State office advises that voters can register or check their registration status on the official website (registertovote.ca.gov). They explain that U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old on Election Day, not currently serving a felony sentence in prison, and without legal restrictions due to mental incapacity, are eligible to register to vote.

Meanwhile, early voting participation is reportedly increasing across the state, with many registered voters having already completed their mail-in ballots. As of October 18, Secretary of State Shirley Weber announced that over 1.5 million mail-in ballots had been returned, signaling a rise in early voting. After the October 21 registration deadline, in-person voting will begin on October 26 at various vote centers, including over 10 locations in Koreatown, LA.

Korean-American politicians are also actively encouraging last-minute voter participation. Marilyn Strickland, a Korean-American mixed-race Congresswoman from Washington state, met with Sam Park, a Georgia state representative, in Atlanta on October 20 to urge Korean-American and broader Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters to turn out for the election.



<Hyungseok Han>