Immigrant Voters Share Concerns Over U.S. Politics, Campaign Finance, and Electoral System

Immigrant Voters Voice Concerns on U.S. Politics, Campaign Finance, and the Electoral System in International Politics

Millions of people migrate to the United States each year, and many of them eventually become U.S. citizens, giving them the right to vote. According to a recent Pew Research Center study, one in ten eligible voters in the U.S. are naturalized citizens, marking a record high. The BBC interviewed several naturalized citizens about their experiences as voters in U.S. elections. Some are voting for the first time, while others have voted in previous elections. Their stories shed light on their perspectives and the unique issues that concern them as immigrant voters.

One of these voters is Colin Paton, a 46-year-old from Melbourne, Australia, who now lives in Houston, Texas. Colin identifies as a libertarian-leaning independent and is unsure who he will vote for in the upcoming election. He may even leave the presidential section of the ballot blank. Colin is deeply troubled by the amount of money involved in U.S. politics. He finds it alarming that a political candidate can raise $1 billion in campaign funds. For him, this amount of financial influence creates concerns about corruption and extremism. He notes a significant difference between how immigrants and native-born Americans view political rhetoric. Immigrants, he says, often discern more quickly between political talk and real action, while many Americans seem to get caught up in the rhetoric.

Another naturalized citizen, Julie Smiley, 49, originally from Wolverhampton, UK, now lives in New Hampshire and supports Kamala Harris. Julie, who became a U.S. citizen in the early 2000s, is critical of the vast amounts of money spent on political campaigns in the U.S. She contrasts this with the UK, where there are regulations limiting campaign spending. Julie also expresses concern about the level of decision-making delegated to local authorities, such as school boards. She feels that some of these decisions should be made by more educated professionals rather than local elected officials. Julie is also surprised by the Electoral College system, which she believes devalues individual votes and should be reformed.

Bill Harms, 87, a retired Republican voter from California, emigrated from Germany in 1957. Bill has already cast his vote for Donald Trump and is confident in his decision. He criticizes the previous U.S. administration for what he sees as its failure to handle immigration and the economy effectively. Bill also laments the growing divide between Democrats and Republicans, noting that politicians from both parties used to work together for the good of the country, a spirit of cooperation that he believes has now been lost.

In contrast, Pierre Uwimana, 51, a Democrat from Florida, is still undecided about who he will support in the upcoming election. Pierre, originally from Rwanda, became a U.S. citizen in October, making this his first election. Immigration is a central issue for Pierre, as he is personally invested in the U.S. immigration system. He is waiting to hear more concrete plans from the candidates on how they will address immigration. Pierre is also critical of the Electoral College system, which he believes is unfair and does not accurately reflect the will of the people.

Saumya Shiohare, 42, from India, became a U.S. citizen in 2019 and plans to vote for Kamala Harris. Saumya, who lives in Maryland, is nervous about the future of the country. She supports Harris primarily because of her Indian heritage and because she believes women should play a greater role in leadership. Saumya feels that Harris will approach problems logically and work to address the issues plaguing American democracy.

Andrew An, 23, a Democrat from Virginia, was born in the Philippines and moved to the U.S. when he was ten years old. For Andrew, immigration is a top concern. He is critical of the idea that only highly educated immigrants should be welcomed to the U.S., arguing that resilience and resourcefulness are more important qualities. He points to the history of American immigrants, many of whom came with little but achieved great success through hard work and determination.

Lastly, Randall Woodard, a 49-year-old college professor from Canada, now living in Florida, identifies as an independent. He voted by mail for a candidate from the American Solidarity Party, a Christian democratic party. Randall’s faith plays a significant role in how he views politics. He evaluates political parties through the lens of his beliefs and finds strengths and weaknesses in both major U.S. parties. Despite the challenges in American politics, Randall remains confident in the U.S. system, particularly its checks and balances, and is optimistic about the country’s future stability.

These naturalized citizens bring unique perspectives to the U.S. political landscape, shaped by their experiences as immigrants and their concerns about the future of the country. Their voices highlight important issues such as campaign finance, immigration, and the fairness of the Electoral College system.

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Source: BBC.COM