The past weeks have seen enormous efforts by American Muslim groups and activists to encourage more voters to cast their ballots in November 3 elections.
They set up phone banks, virtual town halls, and rallies aimed at maximizing voter turnout to make a difference.
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, young Muslims braved strong wind and freezing temperatures to encourage people to turn out and vote, New York Times reported.
📚 Read Also: US Election: Muslim Leaders Working to Get Out the Vote
Though she can’t vote herself yet, Amira Randolph, 15, and about 25 other young people were part of effort led by Youth Empowered in the Struggle, or YES, a multicultural group that is part of Voces de la Frontera Action, a Milwaukee nonprofit that advocates immigrant, student and workers’ rights.
Knocking doors, Randolph met Maribel Piña and her son Rodolfo Geron, 19, who accepted information about voting.
“I was planning to vote today, yeah,” he said, adding that he would cast a ballot for Joseph R. Biden Jr.
“I watched the debates and Biden aligns with what I believe in, too, along with the change I want in this country.”
Vote for Future
Fatoumata Guisse, 15, whose parents are Muslim who immigrated to Milwaukee from Senegal, has also joined the effort recently.
“It’s important to vote and for youth, this vote is for our future,” says Guisse. “So why not go out and encourage people to vote?”
According to the Pew Research Center, Muslims represent just 1 to 2 percent of the country’s population.
The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding estimates that 37 percent of voting-age Muslims in America are under 30 years. Also 80 percent are under 50.
ISPU also reports that 78% of eligible Muslim voters registered to vote this year, up from 60% in 2016.
A new poll from CAIR reports that Trump has 18% support among Muslims, compared to 71% for Biden.