Prior Electoral Work
In 2000, we launched “APALA Vote”, a national non-partisan political program focusing on voter registration, voter education, and get-out-the-vote. Our initial goals were to build an infrastructure and network support system to enable APAs to effectively participate in the political process.
The
same year we held a train-the-trainer Political
Education Conference for APALA members who
would coordinate voter mobilization projects
across the country. Similar trainings
were held in eight cities for APA community
leaders in Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles,
Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Seattle, and
Washington, D.C.
In 2004, APALA launched our Every Vote Counts Program, which was implemented in six states initially. These states included Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, and Hawaii. Program components included voter registration, voter education, and get-out-the vote.
Some of the highlights of the program include: Oregon: 5,800 new registered voters; 12,000 pieces of mail mailed; Nevada: 82,030 phone calls made; over 23,000 pieces of literature distributed; Minnesota; 2,000 new registered voters, 20,000 pieces of literature distributed.