John,

50 years ago, Native peoples came together in solidarity at Wounded Knee, South Dakota — the site where U.S. troops massacred hundreds of Lakota people in 1890.

Fighting for civil rights and sovereignty in 1973, Native peoples gathered together to discuss the problems facing Indian Country, but they were met by federal military action. The National Guard and armed FBI agents swarmed in and began a 71-day standoff, punishing many protesters with criminal charges and political imprisonment.

That occupation sparked a movement to change the relationship between Native sovereign nations and the federal government. Their action was a call to build Native political power. 50 years later, we’re joining our allies and Native communities to renew the call for sovereignty and Indigenous rights, including voting rights.

Native American communities face insurmountable challenges to be able to exercise their right to vote. Congress can remove these hurdles by passing the Native Voting Rights Act.

Native Americans weren’t granted U.S. citizenship until 1924, with the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act. Even with that, Native people were still disenfranchised in several states. In 1957, Utah was the last state to remove laws denying Native Americans their right to vote, although voter suppression against Native, Black, and other Americans of color continued until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.¹

Since the historic Native voter turnout in 2020, 19 states have passed 33 laws restricting the right to vote. As of today, 32 states have introduced 150 restrictive laws. For example, in South Dakota, a lawsuit was introduced against the state due to a state redistricting plan that would blatantly dilute the ability for Native representation in government in violation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

For people living on reservations, there are unique barriers to voting.

Polling places are sometimes hundreds of miles away from reservations. The federal government has not invested in internet infrastructure on reservations, so it can be difficult to register to vote online. Many reservations don’t have standard street addresses that are recognized by the U.S. Postal Service, so some people only have Post Office Boxes as their only mailing address, which can limit voting by mail. Some members of Tribal communities only have Tribal IDs, which have been rejected in many states for voting -- particularly in states with new, stricter voter ID laws.

To address this crisis and protect Native voting rights, Congress must act now to pass the Native American Voting Rights Act. This legislation will:

• Mandate voter registration, early voting, and polling places on Native land.

• Allow tribes to designate a building on-reservation where the address can be used to register, pick up, and drop off ballots.

• Require states to accept tribally issued IDs as voter identification.

• Provide for culturally appropriate language assistance so people who speak Native languages can still vote.

In the United States we are fortunate to have a multiracial, mutli-ethnic society. Our democracy only works when all of us are able to freely participate, without restrictions. Congress must do everything in its power to pass the Native American Voting Rights Act.

Add your name to demand Congress stand up for Native voting rights.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ How Voter Suppression Laws Target Native Americans