Ahead of the election day on November 3, many Muslims have already cast their votes, making use of the early voting system.
However, many Muslim students groups still find it very important to work hard and encourage more youth to get out and vote.
Thus, on Sunday, Oct 25, twenty Muslim student organizations across the US gathered over Zoom to increase Muslim youth voter engagement.
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The “National Muslim Student Mobilization to Get Out to Vote”, hosted by the Yale Muslim Student Association (YMSA), also created an opportunity for young American Muslims to learn about voting, Yale News reported.
Moderated by YMSA Political Chair Shaezmina Khan, the event hosted panelists including Muslim Outreach Advisor for the Biden Campaign Farooq Mitha, Cleveland Ward 7 Councilman Basheer Jones, Civic Engagement Fellow at MPower Change Mahreen Alam and civil rights lawyer Brenda Abdelall.
“Each one of us as individuals has a duty both Islamically as well as being part of a broader community to help push towards positive change for individuals within our communities,” Abdelall said at the event.
“Though you may not have a candidate that meets all of your priorities, it is important to look at ourselves as a broader collective and harness your energy as being part of a broader community. It is important to take that ownership over that right to vote and push that moral arc over that right direction.”
Panelists discussed national policy issues at stake, the 2017 Muslim ban, Islamophobia, racial justice, and other topics that should motivate American Muslims to vote in this election.
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The Muslim Student Association, or Muslim Student Union, of the US and Canada, also known as MSA National, is a religious organization dedicated to establishing and maintaining Islamic societies on college campuses in Canada and the United States.
The group, represented across different universities, strives to promote understanding, acceptance, and social cohesion between Muslims and non-Muslims.
According to the Pew Research Center, Muslims represent just 1 to 2 percent of the country’s population.
However, with the majority of the 3.45 million Muslims living in strategic places, or swing states, like Michigan, Florida, Ohio, and Virginia, Muslims could play an important role in November.
The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding estimates that 37 percent of voting-age Muslims in America are under 30 years of age, and 80 percent are under 50.