2008 U.S. Elections - Muslim Voter Information

Candidates and issues from a Muslim perspective

In November 2008, American voters will choose the 44th U.S. President and vote on other key issues and candidates. In this Muslim Voter Guide, you can find information relating to Muslims and election races nationwide, links to Muslim voter organizations, and key issue positions of the main presidential candidates.

Presidential Candidates

Election Day Blog: American Muslims - Obama or McCain?

Where do the current Presidential candidates stand on issues of importance to the American Muslim community? How has anti-Islamic rhetoric been used in the campaign process?

• Candidate Positions on Iraq, foreign policy, civil liberties, and more.
• Is Barack Obama a Muslim?
• What does Obama's name mean?
• If Obama is not a Muslim, what is his faith?

What Are Muslim Voters Like?

Muslims in the U.S. have proved to be a highly-educated, family-oriented, and diverse group of voters. Recent polls show that most Muslim voters identify themselves as either Democrat or Independent, and are as yet undecided about their presidential picks. To date, no presidential candidate has been officially "endorsed" by a Muslim voting bloc.

• Muslims Undecided About Presidential Pick (CAIR National Survey of Muslim Voters), published in January 2008: Editorial summary with link to complete PDF report
• Criteria for Muslim voters to consider, published by the American Muslim Voter Taskforce

Other Muslim Voter Websites

• CAIR 2008 Elections - website provided by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).


• American Muslim Voter - website of the American Muslim Taskforce, including their 2008 Election Plan (PDF file), outlining "A Civil Rights Plus Agenda" as the focus of this year's election.
  

Register to Vote!

• Within the U.S. - Register early to ensure that you can vote in this year's election! Many states allow you to register by mail.


• U.S. Citizens Outside the U.S. - Have you made Hijrah to another country? American citizens over the age of 18 can still register and vote in the federal elections, even from abroad. Here's how.


• Why Muslims Should Vote and be Involved Politically - Some Muslims believe that it is improper or impermissible for Muslims to be involved in the politics of non-Muslim nations. This article from IslamOnline outlines the religious and moral reasons why Muslims can and should be active in the political process wherever they live.