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Local Indian-American Groups Get-Out-The-Vote

Nick de la Canal
/
WFAE

  

About 50 people, many of them Indian-Americans, lined up at the South County Regional Library early Saturday morning to cast early ballots, many of them first-time voters and previously unregistered.

The get-out-the-vote effort was organized by Charlotte City Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera, herself an Indian-American.

"Early voting is the best time because if folks miss the deadline to register to vote, they can do it now," said Ajmera.

A number of local Indian-American groups also helped organized the effort, among them the United Indian Community (UIC) Forum, Indian Association of Charlotte, Hindu Center of Charlotte, and the Shakthi Corporation.

"We're making community members aware of why it's important to vote," said Vamsi Pola, founder of the UIC forum, who was in attendance Saturday, "I'm pretty sure half of these people would not have shown up if we had not done promotion."

Across Mecklenburg County, more than 91,000 people had cast early ballots as of Friday evening. At least one analysis conducted by Democracy NC found enthusiasm in the first five days of early voting in North Carolina was high among both Democrats and Republicans.

Early voting continues in Mecklenburg County and around the state through next Saturday, Nov. 3. Election day is on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Nick de la Canal is an on air host and reporter covering breaking news, arts and culture, and general assignment stories. His work frequently appears on air and online. Periodically, he tweets: @nickdelacanal