Nepali-Speaking Voters in Pennsylvania Could Play Key Role in 2024 U.S. Presidential Election

The votes of approximately 55,000 members of Pennsylvania’s Nepali-speaking community could prove crucial in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

Pennsylvania has consistently been a battleground state in recent elections. Joe Biden secured it in 2020, following Donald Trump’s victory there in 2016. Before that, from 1992 to 2012, Pennsylvania was a reliably Democratic stronghold. However, Trump’s win in 2016 shifted its status to a “purple state,” meaning it could swing either way in future presidential races.

From 1980 to 1988, Republican presidential candidates carried Pennsylvania. In 2020, Pennsylvania had 20 electoral votes, but population changes from the latest census have reduced that to 19 for 2024. Trump won Pennsylvania in 2016 by a margin of 44,292 votes, while Biden secured victory in 2020 with a margin of 80,555 votes. With such tight margins in previous elections, the nearly 55,000 Nepali speakers in Pennsylvania could play a decisive role in 2024.

A large portion of the Nepali-speaking population in Pennsylvania consists of Bhutanese refugees. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Nepali speakers participating in the election process. According to data from the Department of Homeland Security, the number of Pennsylvania residents born in Nepal who gained U.S. citizenship after the 2020 presidential election has increased by nearly 2,000.

In the 2021 fiscal year, 335 Nepali-born individuals in Pennsylvania became U.S. citizens, and that number grew to 652 in 2022. Additionally, many Nepali speakers have moved to Pennsylvania after gaining citizenship in other states. Department of Homeland Security data also shows that 708 Bhutanese-born individuals became U.S. citizens in 2021, with 1,132 more in 2022, meaning nearly 4,000 Bhutanese-born individuals will be voting in a U.S. presidential election for the first time in 2024.

The trend of Nepali and Bhutanese residents in Pennsylvania becoming U.S. citizens has been steadily increasing since 2014. For instance, 255 Bhutanese-born individuals gained citizenship in 2014, with the number rising each year and peaking at 1,396 in 2017.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, there were 14,201 Nepali speakers in Pennsylvania. However, other data sources suggest the actual number is much higher, as not all Nepali speakers were counted in the census. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 71,000 Bhutanese refugees had resettled in the U.S. by 2013, with many living in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Tilak Niraula, president of the Harrisburg Bhutanese Society, emphasized the growing political influence of Nepali speakers in Pennsylvania. “Our community in Central Pennsylvania has grown significantly in recent years, with many relocating from other states. There are now around 45,000 Nepali speakers in Pennsylvania,” he said.

Niraula estimated that between 45,000 and 55,000 Nepali speakers could cast their votes in the 2024 election. He noted that the Bhutanese community is concentrated in cities such as Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Lancaster, and Scranton. “By August 2023, the Bhutanese population in Central Pennsylvania had reached around 25,000, and it’s still growing,” he added. “Back in 2011, our community was just about 2,000 strong, but today, it’s close to 45,000.”

He encouraged eligible voters in the Nepali-speaking community to exercise their right to vote, stating, “You have the right to vote, and it’s crucial to use it wisely.”

Om Adhikari, a Pennsylvania resident and community activist, also expressed excitement about the upcoming election. He recalled how, since 2014, he has been helping his community with voter registration, providing language assistance, and organizing transportation to polling stations.

Adhikari shared that he plans to vote for a candidate whose policies support immigrants. “This election is particularly challenging, and I’ll be voting for the candidate who advocates for immigrants,” he said. Having voted once before, he is preparing for his second presidential election.

Similarly, Ram Adhikari, a Pennsylvania real estate agent, will be voting for the third time and expressed pride in participating. He urged members of the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese community to make informed decisions and vote for the right candidate.