Vidya Sethuraman
India Post News Service
As the midterm elections approached, the EMS briefing on Oct 13 explored how efforts by some state legislatures to reduce the influence of voters of color through gerrymandered maps and voter restriction laws have impacted Native American voters.
Communities of color and Native Americans in the United States have for years sought better representation on district maps, fighting alongside organizations in the redistricting process. Even though the eligible Native American voting population is small – less than 1% according to Trahant – Native Americans have already swung elections for Senator Lisa Murkowski and Representative Mary Peltola in Alaska, Senator Jon Tester in Montana, and former Senator Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota. Voting age Indians could swing elections in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Nevada in the coming year.
Jacqueline De Leon, Senior Attorney, Native American Rights Fund highlighted the difficulties experienced by Native Americans to exercise their vote, in addition to the importance of this community participating. De Leon called on these communities to fight for their rights and participate in the country’s midterm elections.
The hostility continues towards Native Americans when they vote. Across the country we have seen discrimination, with intent and purpose, against Native American communities. In 2020 De Leon co-authored a 200-page NARF report called “Obstacles at Every Turn” which explains why Native American voter turnout has historically been so low. “It details the absurd structural barriers that Native Americans face,” De Leon said.
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