Armenian American voters – a highly networked, politically engaged electoral constituency situated in hotly-contested swing states – are well positioned to play a pivotal role in what promises to be a close 2020 presidential election.

Here are the top five reasons why:

1. Vibrant, well-established Armenian American communities flourish in swing states, including in the Detroit suburbs of Michigan, the Racine, Kenosha, and Waukegan region of Wisconsin, the Philadelphia area of southeastern Pennsylvania, Cleveland, Ohio, and across multiple metropolitan areas in Florida. Newer communities continue to grow in and around Phoenix, Arizona and in the Las Vegas/Henderson area of Nevada.
2. A large number of Americans of Armenian heritage – a community well represented across the U.S. political spectrum, with strong anchors in both the Democratic and Republican camps – consistently demonstrate their willingness to cross party lines to support candidates who have distinguish themselves as effective advocates for issues of special concern to Armenian Americans.
3. Armenian Americans are networked with a broad array of coalition partners, including similarly well-positioned Christian communities with roots in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Greater Middle East, including Greeks, Serbs, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Lebanese, Arameans, Maronites and others.
4. The “HyeVotes” campaign – launched in 2012 and active across the United States – has registered tens of thousands of Armenian American voters, encouraging unprecedented levels of civic engagement and get-out-the-vote efforts for elections up and down the ballot.
5. In the wake of recent Congressional resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide and amid a renewed round of Turkish hostility and Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), Armenian American voters are highly motivated to advance pro-Armenian Executive Branch policies.

U.S. Presidential Elections 2020

• ANCA Presidential Candidate Overview – The ANCA has compiled information on each presidential candidate’s record on Armenian American concerns.
• Election 2020 Primary Dates: Not sure when the primaries are in your state? Find out on this excellent overview prepared by the New York Times.

U.S. Congressional Elections 2020

• ANCA Congressional Endorsements – Check out the ANCA endorsed Congressional candidates from over 30 states.
• ANCA Congressional Report Cards – Review the ANCA ratings of all current members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives
• ANCA Congressional Questionnaire 2016 – Check out the Questionnaire and stay tuned for an online version candidates can submit with a few key strokes.
• Candidates Running in your District – Not sure who is running for Federal or State office in your area? Type in you ZIP code and find out.

Voter Registration

Voting is a right and a responsibility. Though each U.S. state has its own rules, three criteria are common among all:

1) You must be a U.S. Citizen
2) You must by 18 years of age by election day (The 2016 general election date is Tuesday, November 8th)
3) You must meet your state’s residency requirements

• Register to Vote – Visit the ANCA Western Region’s ongoing voter registration effort, HyeVotes Initiatives, select your state and register to vote.