Testimony of John C. Yang for the Shadow Hearing on “The State of Voting Rights and Elections”

The Asian American electorate is one of growth – in numbers and relevance as a political community. Unfortunately, the community has yet to fully exercise its political power, in part due to barriers at the ballot box being erected precisely because of this growing potential power. The long history of discrimination against Asian Americans, including the denial of rights held by U.S. citizens such as the right to vote, continue to be visited on the community. Racist laws barring Asian Americans from entering or staying in the country, owning land, or voting, among other exclusionary laws, were often based on the perception and fear of Asian Americans as “outsiders” and “perpetual foreigners,” and the accompanying perceived political threat to the status quo. The rise in xenophobic rhetoric, and resultant policies and activities, will likely worsen because of the ongoing demographic shifts across the nation. As one of the fastest growing racial or ethnic groups for over the last several decades, Asian Americans are becoming more politically visible and viable across the country, which is resulting in ongoing and persistent anti-Asian sentiments, political attacks on Asian American candidates and voters, and voting policies that erect barriers rather than expand access for Asian American voters to the ballot. To continue to protect voting rights for Asian Americans in the future, Congress must pass laws that increase access to the ballot box, including restoring, modernizing and strengthening the Voting Rights Act (VRA).