Native Americans frequently face the challenge of traveling long distances in order to register to vote. Additionally, they often encounter difficulties in registering through mail due to limited access to postal services, as well as in registering online due to lack of internet access. Another obstacle arises from the fact that many tribal homes do not have conventional addresses, posing a challenge for citizens when filling out voter registration forms that require an address.
According to Allison Neswood, a Navajo staff attorney with the Native American Rights Fund, the challenges faced by Native American communities can be traced back to their historical treatment. She believes it is our shared responsibility to ensure that these barriers are overcome and that our communities have a voice in the decision-making processes that directly affect them.
Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Michigan have recently implemented a new policy that allows tribes to choose automatic voter registration. This means that when eligible citizens enroll in a tribe, they will be automatically registered to vote.
In Colorado, tribes have the option to engage in the process by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of State. This agreement would outline the details of how the data transfer would take place. Similarly, in New Mexico, tribes would follow a similar process. On the other hand, in Nevada, tribal nations can request the governor to designate an agency of the tribe as an automatic voter agency.
According to Neswood, although no tribe has implemented automatic voter registration yet, several tribes have been instrumental in the enactment of these laws. This suggests that there is a possibility that they will adopt automatic voter registration in the near future.
