voting right

Native Voting Rights in South Dakota—We Do the Math

Teresa Walrod

From Indian Country Today:

South Dakota’s Help America Vote Act Grant Board has approved funding for Indian-reservation satellite-voting centers for the 2018 elections. Secretary of State Shantel Krebs created the bipartisan board in 2015. It distributes federal HAVA money to counties that use it for maintaining voting machines and other election-related expenses. Krebs praised board members for “their dedication to improving ballot access and keeping our county election equipment current.”

HERE.

DOJ to consult with tribes on possible voting rights legislation

Ann Tweedy

The DOJ is considering recommending that Congress pass legislation requiring state and local election administrators whose districts include Indian or Alaska Native lands to allow tribes to designate at least one polling place. Consultations are to begin shortly. It seems to me that such legislation would be very helpful in reducing the barriers to voting for Native persons who live on reservations and in similar communities.

The official notice is here: DOJ Consultation Announcement–Voting Rights (1). More information can also be found on the website for the Office of Tribal Justice.