1 in 10 Eligible Voters Is Now an Immigrant. Here’s Why That Matters for America.

Walter Ewing for Immigration Impact reports that “Immigrants are participating in the U.S. political process in record numbers, which is a clear sign of successful integration into American society. In fact, nearly one out of every 10 eligible voters in the United States is now an immigrant.” (bold added).

With 10 percent of the electorate has a personal connection to the immigrant experience, a larger percentage of the voting population will likely be more attuned to the immigration as a political issue.

Ewing explains that “An analysis of Census Bureau data by the Pew Research Center indicates that the number of eligible immigrant voters has grown by 93 percent over the past two decades. It spiked from 12 million in 2000 to 23.2 million in 2020. The immigrant share of all eligible voters during that period has increased from 6.2 percent of the total to 9.8 percent.”

Ewing’s takeaway:

“it’s clear that immigrants in the United States are joining in the political process in large numbers. Together with their native-born fellow voters, they are taking an active role in shaping the future of their country. This reflects a strong sense of belonging to the society in which they have made their homes.

This sense of belonging and participation in the political process has the potential to shape American politics for years to come.”

KJ