(CINCINNATI, OHIO 9/1/2021) – On Friday, Aug. 27, the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) participated in National Muslim Voter Registration Day by hosting a voter registration drive at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati.
CAIR-Ohio Community Affairs Director Whitney Siddiqi and Staff Attorney Lina Abbaoui helped people outside of Jummah services register to vote and update their registration with new addresses. The team also answered questions about upcoming elections across Hamilton, Butler, and Warren counties in November and stressed the importance of local elections.
These civic engagement efforts are crucial as Muslims remain one of America’s least civically-engaged groups and one of the most discriminated against in institutional settings, according to research from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), a non-partisan organization dedicated to studying trends in and issues impacting American Muslims.
ISPU research reports that Muslim voter registration remains the lowest among other major faith communities and lower than the general public. ISPU also points to the need for increased participation in local political races where Muslims can make a significant difference with volunteering, contributions and voting, as well as other civic activity.
If your community is interested in hosting a voter registration drive and would like more information contact our Policy Director, Tala Dahbour at 614-401-2920 or tdahbour@cair.com.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR-Ohio has offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. CAIR-Ohio’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
