An estimated 2 million registered voters in the United States are Muslim Americans, according to a new analysis released on Sunday by the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
While the largest concentrations of Muslim voters are in California and New York, CAIR's data shows there are tens of thousands registered in Massachusetts.
“There's a sizable population of at least 50,000, or more, Muslim voters in Massachusetts with Arabic names or other Muslim-related names,” said Robert McCaw, CAIR’s national government affairs director.
CAIR came up with its estimated count of registered Muslim voters, in part by looking at people with “distinct Muslim surnames, Muslim first names,” as well as other geographical information, and nationality. As such, CAIR said the 2 million estimate is likely an undercount. Particularly, the limited voter data was likely to overlook Black Americans — about 20% of the country's Muslim population — and who do not have traditional Muslim names. McCaw said white and Latino Muslim voters also may be excluded from the count if their names do not give any indication of their religious affiliation. He uses himself as an example: Though he is Muslim, he can't be identified as such through his name alone.
The Northeast accounts for more than 25% of the nation's estimated Muslim registered voters with the majority of them in New York, at around 227,000 registered voters, New Jersey with 109,000, and Pennsylvania with approximately 57,000. In New England, Massachusetts had the second highest number, behind Connecticut's almost 82,000 registered voters.
Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, the executive director and chief legal officer of CAIR’s Massachusetts chapter, says the war in Gaza has been top of mind for local Muslims and has spurred those hoping for a ceasefire to local action.
“They're loving it [political activity]. And for most of these people, this is their first time doing this type of advocacy,” Amatul-Wadud said. “And it feels so democratic and so American and yet so personal and important for the Muslim community here in Massachusetts. … We're also seeing this groundswell of support in the municipal realm. So you're hearing of families, young people, students, adults going to their city council meetings, bringing resolutions for ceasefire, that maybe they’ve seen in other states.”
Amatul-Wadud says Massachusetts Muslims are a diverse group, ethnically, culturally and politically. And McCaw emphasizes that as well.
“The American Muslim community is the most ethnically diverse religious community in the United States. Friday at a mosque is the most integrated place in the nation,” he said.
Still McCaw said rising political involvement, and to some extent, shared values, are an across-the-board phenomenon among Muslims in the U.S.
“American Muslim voters are registered; they're politically active, and during tight election they have the ability to tip the results either way,” said McCaw. “So that's the beauty of the Muslim community. There's a plurality of voices that share each other's concerns, and it's just not one small impacted community. And so that's why politicians really need to listen to Muslim voters, because we're a force multiplier.”
