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The New York Times reports that Muslim groups are organizing in response to rhetoric on the presidential stage, planning to push get out the vote efforts the year.
And it could make a big difference. Here's the Times:
Although Muslims make up only about 1 percent of the US population, they cluster in crucial swing states like Ohio and Florida, where advocacy groups hope the united voting bloc can make a meaningful difference. Organizations involved hope to register as many as 1 million new voters.
As recently as the 2000 election, Muslims leaned Republican. But following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and a wave of anti-Islamic backlash, the American Muslim community has swung sharply in the other direction. Today, 70 percent of Muslim Americans identify as Democrats, according to the Pew Research Center.
But Muslims are not the only minority community hoping to boost turnout against Republicans. Latino groups, angered by Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric in particular, are also holding drives to register voters – and to help permanent residents become naturalized citizens in time to cast ballots.
Latinos, who make up about 13 percent of eligible voters, are disproportionately young – 3.2 million Latinos will have turned 18 and become eligible to vote between the 2012 election and Election Day in 2016. They’re disproportionately likely to support Democrats, and mobilizing them could deal a real blow to Republicans in the general election.
A previous version of this post contained passages that were not properly credited to a source. It's been updated to correct the error.
