By Osman Hassan
In the United States, the right to vote is a fundamental democratic right protected and extended through several amendments to the Constitution, federal laws, and court decisions. summary of key elements. The 15th Amendment of 1870 prohibited denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous servitude, securing voting rights for all men, including African Americans although discriminatory practices persisted in the South for nearly a century. The 19th amendment of 1920 extended voting rights to women, ending a long fight for women’s suffrage. In 1964,the 24th Amendment abolished poll taxes in federal elections, removing a financial barrier that was historically used to prevent African Americans from voting.
The 26th amendment of 1971 lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, a response partly influenced by the draft during the Vietnam War, reinforcing that citizens old enough to serve in the military should also have the right to vote. And the Voting Act of 1965 became landmark legislation prohibited racial discrimination in voting, outlawing practices like literacy tests and enabling federal oversight in areas with histories of discrimination. It’s considered one of the most significant achievements in civil rights, aiming to ensure equal access to the vote.
Like any other community, Muslim Americans, like all U.S. citizens, have the right to vote under the U.S. Constitution. Voting rights for Muslim Americans are protected by the same laws that apply to all Americans, including the 15th Amendment, which prohibits voting discrimination based on race, color, or previous servitude, and the 19th Amendment, which grants women the right to vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 further protects against discriminatory practices that could disenfranchise minority groups, including religious minorities. However, challenges still exist. Some Muslim Americans face barriers such as voter ID laws, language access issues, and sometimes religious discrimination or Islamophobia at polling places. Community groups and organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) actively work to encourage voter registration and participation among Muslim Americans, addressing these challenges through legal advocacy, voter education, and outreach initiatives. On the other hand, Muslim American voters are divided in their support for the 2024 presidential election, reflecting shifting political priorities and specific issues of concern.
Vice President Kamala Harris initially held stronger support among Muslim Americans, particularly among younger voters, but this has waned over time due to concerns around U.S. foreign policy, especially regarding the Gaza-Israel conflict. A recent CAIR poll reports that Harris has the backing of about roughly 30% of Muslim voters, with an equal percentage showing support for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, suggesting disillusionment with both major party candidates among segments of this community. Though, some Muslim Americans are turning to third-party options, a portion of the community has also shifted toward Donald Trump, seeing his approach as more aligned with their concerns on some social and economic issues. But Trump’s past actions, including his proposals for a Muslim registry, continue to affect his support among Muslim voters, even as certain issues have softened their stance to Trump.
Undoubtedly, the Trump’s last administration policies toward Muslims had several prominent causes, including national security concerns, political ideology, and campaign promises, as well as significant social and geopolitical impacts. For example, Trump administration often cited concerns over terrorism and national security. Following terrorist attacks in the U.S. and abroad, the administration argued that stricter vetting procedures and immigration restrictions could prevent further incidents. At the same time, Trump campaigned on a promise to be “tough on immigration,” with a particular focus on areas he associated with potential threats. The rhetoric of a “Muslim ban” during his campaign led to the controversial executive orders on immigration from specific Muslim-majority countries.
In addition to this, Trump’s key members of his administration, including former advisers, held views that framed Muslims or immigrants from certain regions as security threats. This ideological stance helped to shape policies toward a more restrictive approach on immigration and surveillance which became a leeway to Trump’s administration of 2017 executive orders led to what became known as the “Muslim ban,” formally the Executive Order 13769. Initially, it restricted entry from seven Muslim-majority countries. The list later included non-Muslim-majority countries but maintained a strong impact on Muslim-majority nations. Though, the ban sparked widespread protests and legal battles, leading to revised orders and eventually Supreme Court approval of a modified version.
However, the damage was already at par that catalyzed the increased discrimination and Islamophobia. The Trump policies towards Muslims contributed to an increase in Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims in the U.S. and abroad. Hate crimes targeting Muslims reportedly increased during and after the Trump administration, with organizations noting a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment. This wind-word trump policies pave way to diplomatic strain with Muslim-Majority Countries. While these policies led to significant pushback from civil rights organizations, who argued that they were unconstitutional and discriminatory. Many Muslim immigrants, students, families, and refugees faced difficulties in gaining entry to the U.S. Many were unable to reunite with family members, and some experienced disruptions in employment, education, and security as a result.
In contrary to Trump policies, president Joe Biden took a significant step early in his term by rescinding the travel restrictions commonly known as the “Muslim Ban,” which had been enacted during the Trump administration. This policy, initially presented as a temporary measure, barred entry to the U.S. for people from several predominantly Muslim countries, affecting countless families who were separated by these restrictions. Biden’s decision to overturn the ban on his first day in office aimed to signal his administration’s commitment to reversing what he viewed as discriminatory policies from the prior administration. Since then, the Biden administration has made additional efforts to support Muslim communities in the U.S., including initiatives to combat Islamophobia and ensure the safety of places of worship. However, Biden’s approach to Middle Eastern geopolitics, especially his support for Israel during recent conflicts, has led to some discontent among Muslim Americans who feel that his administration has not done enough to represent their interests in foreign policy.
For a more comprehensive thoughts, Biden’s team continues to address issues affecting Muslim and Arab American communities both domestically and abroad, balancing civil rights protections with complex international dynamics. When President Biden reversed the so-called “Muslim Ban” in 2021, he received initial praise from many in the Muslim community for the move, as it symbolized a rollback on a policy seen as discriminatory and Islamophobic. However, while this action was welcomed, many Muslim and Arab Americans have expressed frustration, feeling the administration has not done enough to address the lingering impacts and other critical issues affecting their communities. Muslim Americans felt that Biden’s actions, while symbolically important, did not fully address the bureaucratic and logistical difficulties still affecting families separated by the ban. This account for challenges like extensive visa backlogs, denied cases, and obstacles for refugees continue to affect those previously impacted by the policy.
Many community members and leaders feel Biden should have pursued additional immigration reforms and actions against Islamophobia to support Muslims and prevent future similar bans, such as advocating more actively for the No Ban Act and administrative adjustments for impacted visa cases. Similarly, Biden’s stance on issues related to foreign policy, particularly U.S. support for Israel in recent conflicts, has also been a point of contention, causing a portion of the community to question his commitment to their concerns beyond the reversal of the travel ban. This sense of “partial relief” reveals broader concerns within the community about U.S. policies that many feel still inadequately address systemic discrimination against Muslims and the hardships left by the previous administration’s policies. This response highlights a mix of relief and disappointment, with ongoing calls for stronger reforms and anti-discrimination protections from the Biden administration to ensure sustainable change for Muslim and immigrant communities moving forward.
Muslim Americans wild thoughts should always remember and at least have a flashback when voting. In 2018, then-President Donald Trump moved the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, officially recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This decision marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy and broke with decades of American policy that had maintained a neutral stance on Jerusalem’s status, given its importance to both Israelis and Palestinians. This decision to move the embassy was controversial and was received mixed reactions globally. It acknowledged “the reality” of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and supported Israel’s long-standing claim. Many Muslims and non-Muslims warned that it could hinder the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and potentially spark unrest in the region, as Palestinians Jerusalem as the capital of Palestinian state. The embassy move led to protests and condemnation from various Middle Eastern countries and international bodies, including the United Nations, where a majority of members voted to condemn the action. However, the move was welcomed by some U.S. allies and supporters of Israel, and it has since set a precedent with other countries also recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, though most embassies remain in Tel Aviv.
Additionally, Muslim Americans should remember that the U.S. Republican Party was founded on March 20, 1854, in Ripon, Wisconsin. It emerged in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which threatened to expand slavery into new U.S. territories, and soon became a major force in American politics, leading to the election of its first president, Abraham Lincoln, in 1860. Currently, the Muslim members of the U.S. Congress—Reps. André Carson, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib—all serve as Democrats. To date, no Republican Muslim American has been elected to the U.S. Senate or House. A historic Republican Muslim candidate was Dr. Mehmet Oz, who ran for Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022 but did not win. The Muslim representation in Congress has remained primarily within the Democratic Party in recent years.
Like all U.S. citizens, Muslim Americans have the fundamental democratic right to vote, which is essential in allowing each eligible individual to participate in selecting government representatives and shaping decision-making processes. This right ensures that citizens can influence policies and choose leaders whose actions impact their lives and communities directly. Voting empowers citizens, upholds equality, and reinforces the principle of “one person, one vote.” It is a cornerstone of democratic governance, promoting accountability, transparency, and inclusivity, and serves as a vital tool for expressing individual opinions and preferences within a collective society.
Finally, voting offers a pathway to influence change, considering how policies can affect civil liberties, representation, and community well-being. Many Muslim Americans are advocating for policies that reflect religious freedom, inclusion, and respect for diverse communities. As an electorate, Muslims may find strength in examining these past policies and current agendas, advocating for candidates whose positions align with those values of equity and justice. This can also help ensure that elected leaders are more mindful of diverse needs and concerns.
By Osman Hassan
Email: [email protected]
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