Leading up to November 5, 2024, Americans across the country will participate in our national election–not just by voting for president, but also by choosing among governors, federal- and state-level legislators, city-level officials, ballot measures, and more.
The Sikh Coalition is working to ensure that all Sikh Americans make their voices heard with our 2024 “Get Out The Vote” (GOTV) effort.
Use our free GOTV Center to check your voter registration, look up your polling place, and read about candidates and election rules in your area. Then, share thesikh.co/GOTV-center with your family and friends so they can get involved too.
Our 2024 GOTV Fellows (see below) have also curated additional information for sangat: In this spreadsheet, you can find dates for each states’ deadlines for online voter registration, registration by mail, and in-person registration; you can also view the states’ in-person early voting periods, and whether or not they have voter ID requirements. We will continue to update this information through November 5 if critical details change.
Finally, given national conversations about the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” policy platform, the Sikh Coalition has put together a fact sheet detailing how its proposals could affect the U.S.-based Sikh community. Please click here to learn more.
Voting by mail is legal, safe, and widely practiced in the United States. In 2020, 43% of voters voted by mail. There is no evidence that increased voting by mail will lead to fraud; voter fraud is, in general, a very rare phenomenon. Check back here for more information on voting by mail in your state this November. You can also email gotv@sikhcoalition.org with any questions.
The Sikh Coalition is honored to announce our first-ever The Vote (GOTV) Fellowship Program fellows! The GOTV Fellowship Program is an immersive opportunity for high school and undergraduate students to delve into civil rights work within the nonprofit and nonpartisan sphere. The primary aim of this six-month Fellowship Program is to empower young sangat members with the skills and guidance needed to amplify their community’s civic influence by encouraging local residents to participate in the upcoming 2024 elections. Fellows, during the program, will have the chance to formulate and execute voter engagement strategies. Learn more about this year’s fellows below:
Gia Panesar is a Sikh-American community activist from New York. She has advocated for intersectional gender equity on the global stage through her involvement with Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation initiative, serving on the UN Gender Equality Action Group, and meeting with the US Ambassador to the UN. Additionally, Gia has extensive governmental experience, having worked with her Congressman for over two years, served as a US Senate Page for Majority Leader Charles Schumer, and contributed to numerous local and federal campaigns. Currently, Gia is studying Political Science and Human Rights in New York and plans to attend law school.
Gobind Singh, based in Pennsylvania, is interested in amplifying the political voice of the Sikh community and increasing our collective bargaining power. He is passionate about holistic healthcare and its interaction with minority communities, emphasizing the crucial role of good public policy in good health.
Harrison Bagga is from the PA/NJ area. He is a rising high school junior with a deep interest in law, public service, and advocacy. This past school year, Harrison worked with Sikh Youth Alliance along with the NJ Board of Education to incorporate Sikhism into all NJ public schools.
Mannat Kaur is a rising high school sophomore based in Atlanta, Georgia. She runs cross country and track for her high school team. This is Mannat Kaur’s first year interning with the Sikh Coalition, inspired by her involvement in local campaigns like the Ravi Bhalla campaign in April. Her motivation comes from the lack of Sikh representation in both small and large communities, often leading to misunderstandings or a lack of awareness. Mannat is dedicated to changing this narrative and ensuring Sikhs are accurately represented.
Saigeldeep Ghotra is a first-generation rising junior based in California interested in the intersection of equity initiatives in public policy, education, and wellness. Currently a United States Senate Intern, Democratic Party Fellow, and Youth Power Project Mental Health Policy Associate, Saigeldeep has experience in student and youth leadership of serving a wide range of needs for nearly 100,000 students locally and all students statewide.
Simran Kaur is currently a sophomore based in Michigan. Her major is Public Policy and Social Relations. Some of her previous work experiences consist of campaigning for Michigan’s State Senator- Darrin Camilleri as well as Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She helps with voter registration work with a nonprofit organization called ForMichigan.