New York, Sep 30 (V7N) - The U.S. presidential election occurs every four years, with the next one set for November 5. Many Bangladeshi expatriates tend to support Democratic candidates for various reasons, particularly in New York. However, the Palestine-Israel conflict has caused Muslim voters to withdraw their support from the Biden administration and the Democrats due to their perceived bias toward Israel, leading to concerns about full support from the community.
 
One major factor behind expatriates’ trust in Democrats is the party’s immigration policies. Additionally, several Bangladeshi-Americans have been elected as Democratic representatives, further strengthening family-based support for the party. The Biden administration has also appointed 600 judges to speed up asylum cases, which is another key reason for this preference.
This year's withdrawal of support from the Muslim community, triggered by the Democrats' stance on the Palestine-Israel issue, has left many expatriates uneasy.
 
Professor Syed Azad, President of the Bangladeshi American Journalists Association, said, "Bangladeshis have consistently supported the Democratic Party because they provide security for nonimmigrants. Kamala Harris, a nonimmigrant-friendly leader, is poised for victory in the upcoming election."
 
In the upcoming U.S. election, Bangladeshi-American Manzoor Chowdhury secured a decisive win as a National Democratic Convention delegate from District 13 in New York’s primary. The convention, where representatives nationwide gather to vote for the party’s presidential candidate, is a crucial step in the process. Previously, Manzoor was elected twice as a judicial delegate for Queens County in New York City’s primaries. He currently serves as a controller at the Dominican Province of Saint Joseph’s main office.
 
In 2022, five Bangladeshi-Americans won the Democratic primary election in New York’s Assembly District-24. The election took place last Tuesday.
 
The five Bangladeshi candidates who won in the Democratic primary are Jamila Uddin, Mahtab Khan, Nusrat Alam, Mohammed Sabul Uddin, and Jami Qazi.
New York’s five cities hold a total of 26 seats. There are 150 candidates running, including Democrats, for 27 electoral seats. The majority of Bangladeshi expatriates reside in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens.
 
Winning a U.S. presidential election requires two types of victories: the popular vote and the electoral vote. Candidates focus on securing the electoral vote, which is determined by the population of each state. States with larger populations have more electoral votes. There are 538 total electoral votes, and a candidate needs at least 270 to win the presidency.
 
Any U.S. citizen over the age of 18 can vote in the presidential election, but many states require voters to present ID before casting their ballot.
 
Kamala Harris has officially been declared the Democratic Party’s nominee for the upcoming U.S. presidential election. As the first Black woman and first South Asian woman to receive such a nomination, Harris, 59, is making history. If she defeats Republican nominee Donald Trump this November, she will become the first female president of the United States.
 
Speaking to Voice7 News, Nurul Amin Babu, Organizing Secretary of the U.S. BNP, said, “Traditionally, Bangladeshi expatriates support Democrats. It seems that this will not change. However, the party offering the best solutions for immigrant issues is likely to gain more support from the community."
 
Selim Reza, President of the South BNP New York Chapter, said, “We will vote for the party that offers the most benefits to expatriates, such as social security and health insurance. Democrats usually prioritize these in their manifestos."
 
Expatriate Jubo Dal leader and businessman Masud Rana stated, “Without good governance, a country remains in crisis. The current government must hand over power to an elected government. We work hard to send remittances, and we deserve the respect that comes with it.”
 
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