National campaign launched in Arizona to encourage more than 3.5 million newly naturalized citizens to vote

With our eyes on Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania, this Tuesday, dLocal advocates, national coalitions and newly naturalized voters gathered at the Arizona State Capitol to launch the New American Voters campaign, whose objective is to elevate the priorities of newly naturalized voters.

The event titled “Naturalized and Ready to Vote” featured comments from newly naturalized residents as well as leaders from Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander for Equity (AZ AANHPI for Equity), Arizona Center for Empowerment (ACE), Promise Arizona (PAZ), National Association for New Americans (NPNA) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

It is estimated thatin fiscal year 2022, 967,400 people were naturalized in the United States, according to data from the federal agency. Naturalizations in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 represented nearly a quarter (24%) of all naturalizations recorded over the past decade.

Thus, campaign aims to encourage eligible residents to naturalize and empower newly naturalized voters in swing states highlighting their priorities through polls and ensuring their voices are heard in the upcoming elections.

Said Nicole Melaku, Executive Director of NPNA, “As we stand on the brink of a crucial election, we call on all newly naturalized citizens to join us in exercising their right to vote, ensuring their voices resonate powerfully in the halls of the government. By launching the New American Voters campaign in Arizona today, we are shining a ray of hope and unity. This campaign recognizes the invaluable contributions of newly naturalized citizens to our nation and underscores their vital role in shaping our democracy. “Together we can affirm the enduring promise of America as a land of opportunity and inclusion.”

According to the organizations, new American voters have the potential to influence elections in key states such as Arizona and should be considered a priority among candidates. Since the last presidential election in November 2020, an estimated 62,179 voting-age adults in Arizona and more than 3.5 million voting-age adults nationwide have recently naturalized, according to estimates from the US Immigration Policy Center. USA (USIPC) at UC San Diego.

The number of eligible Latino/Hispanic voters has increased from 32.3 million in 2020 to a projected 36.2 million in November 2024, and in Arizona, Latino/Hispanic residents make up 32.5% of the state’s population.

Today, nearly 177,000 Arizona residents are eligible to naturalize, the majority of whom (approximately 160,598 residents) reside in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler area. The New American Voters campaign encourages all eligible Arizonans to take advantage of the new reduced naturalization fee now available to the majority (71%) of U.S. residents eligible to naturalize in time to register to vote this year.

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