“The Caribbean Political Action Committee (C-PAC) is a regional PAC, however, we are providing this piece for educational purposes only.”

The 2016 U.S. Presidential Elections: What Caribbean American Voters Need to Know   

By: Melissa Noel

The historic two-term presidency of America’s first Black President, Barack Obama will soon come to an end.  In 2016 Americans will head to the polls to elect the next president of the United States. Among the potential voters are six million Caribbean Americans, including those of Caribbean descent.

As the campaign trail moves along, here are five things that Caribbean Americans Need to Know  

1. Keep up with Campaigns: This may seem obvious, but it’s easy to lose track. There are currently fifteen (15) Republicans and five Democrats in the race for president and more are expected. With so much information out there it can be hard to put things into perspective, but there are a number of resources that can help. Websites like Ballotpedia offer insight on Democrats and Republicans that are running for president, along with individual profiles for each prospective candidate. There is also an interactive guide that outlines how each state has voted in past elections.

Other good resources that will keep Caribbean Americans on top of 2016’s presidential election developments include the interactive tracker Who Is Running for President from the New York Times and Project Vote Smart among others.

2. Focus on the Track Record: In addition to keeping up with campaigns in general, knowing the specifics of each candidate’s platforms and the key changes they would like to make in the country is vital.  Use the resources outlined in the first point and regularly follow the news and debates to answer critical questions. Learn how presidential hopefuls voted in the past versus what they say on the campaign trail.