By Rabia Iclal Turan
WASHINGTON (AA) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, on Friday released its final survey of Muslim voters in the 2024 presidential race, showing the Green Party candidate leading Democratic nominee Kamala Harris among Muslim voters by a small margin.
According to the poll, released just days before Election Day, 42.3% of respondents favor Jill Stein, with Harris close behind at 41%, echoing the statistical tie seen in CAIR’s August survey, where both candidates each garnered 29% support.
Angered by the White House aiding the Gaza genocide with arms and support on the international stage, some 9.8% of Muslim voters plan to vote for former President Donald Trump, similar to the 11.2% he received in an August poll, CAIR said.
The poll, done among 1,449 verified Muslim voters on Oct. 30-31, has a 95% confidence interval and a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points, the group added.
Only 5% of respondents said they currently do not plan to vote, while nearly all others say they will cast their ballots.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, CAIR’s deputy director, highlighted the significance of these results, saying it is unprecedented for a third-party candidate to get substantial support among Muslim voters.
"That goes to show, once again, the significant role that the Gaza genocide concern is playing among American Muslim voters," Mitchell said, referring to the Israel’s 13-month onslaught on the Gaza Strip, killing over 43,000 people, most of them women and children, and injuring over 101,000, and subjecting the strip to a harsh blockade of needed aid.
The administration of President Joe Biden – and by extension, Vice President Kamala Harris – has been slammed for its steady support for Israel, though observers say Harris has hinted she may take a more critical stance.
Mitchell also expressed optimism about the high level of reported voter intent: "95% of respondents said they are voting, have voted, or plan to vote. That's a very good thing."
As early voting ends today for most states, Mitchell urged voters not to wait for next Tuesday, Nov. 5, Election Day.
"Don’t wait for the lines on Tuesday. Turn out to vote," he said. "The American Muslim community has a huge role to play in this election, especially in key swing states. For us to sit on the sidelines is not going to change anything."
Robert S. McCaw, CAIR’s director of government affairs, also stressed the importance of voter turnout, calling on Muslim voters to strengthen their electoral impact by making a plan.
"I want everyone to make a plan to vote," McCaw said. "This election, in particular, has put Muslim voter power on prominent display. We've seen all three major candidates reach out to the Muslim community to try in their different ways to address our concerns – some better than others."
"This has been a high point for Muslim voter engagement this election, and it's all made possible because they expect you to turn out to vote. So go out, vote, and continue to build Muslim power."