HOUSTON, Texas — Pakistani American community leaders in Houston have launched a special voter-mobilization campaign ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, urging Pakistani and Muslim Americans to register and participate in the electoral process.
The campaign, being conducted under the banner “Get Out the Vote,” seeks to increase voter registration and turnout within the Muslim and Pakistani American communities. Organizers have set an ambitious goal of increasing Muslim American voter participation from approximately 15 percent to 60 percent.
A special outreach meeting was held in Houston with Pakistani American leaders Afshin Charania, Maryam Khan and Qaiser Imam, who discussed the importance of voter registration and greater civic participation.
Community leader Maryam Khan urged Muslim and Pakistani Americans to ensure that they are registered to vote by the October 5 deadline, emphasizing the importance of participating in the upcoming midterm elections.
Dr. Ashar Ghori, a leader of the Association of Pakistani American Physicians of Texas (APNA Texas), said greater voter participation among American Muslims is needed and called for efforts to raise turnout significantly.
Community leader Qaiser Imam said Muslim Americans should ensure their full participation in the American political and electoral process and make their voices heard through civic engagement.
The campaign comes amid concerns expressed by Muslim and Pakistani American community leaders about policies of the Trump administration and what they describe as increasing Islamophobia in the United States. Organizers say greater voter participation is an important way for the community to engage with issues affecting its families and communities.
Houston has a significant Muslim population. Pew Research Center estimates that 3 percent of adults in the Houston metropolitan area identify as Muslim. However, there is no official government figure for the number of registered Muslim voters in Houston because voter-registration records do not identify voters by religion.
The Houston meeting also included prominent Pakistani American community figures, including Pakistan Chamber of Commerce President Amir Paprani, Tazeen Zahida, PAGH President Siraj Narsi and Muzaffar Vohra, who shared their views on civic participation and voter engagement.
With the November 3 midterm elections approaching, organizers are encouraging eligible Pakistani and Muslim Americans to check their voter-registration status, register before the deadline if necessary, and participate in the electoral process.
The Texas voter-registration deadline for the November 2026 election is October 5, 2026, with early voting scheduled to begin October 19
