New Mexico’s Efforts to Increase Native American Voter Participation
Theresa Pascal, a voter participation advocate, is actively working within the tribal community of Acoma Pueblo to distribute sample ballots and absentee ballot applications ahead of the upcoming primary on June 4. Residents of Acoma Pueblo face challenges in exercising their right to vote, such as distant polling stations and restrictive voter ID requirements. Despite gaining citizenship a century ago, Native Americans still struggle to access the ballot equally.
New Mexico is implementing provisions from the state’s Native American Voting Rights Act to address these disparities. The act aims to empower tribal communities by providing more flexibility in voting methods and locations, including the possibility of using tribal offices as street addresses for residents in remote locations without standard addresses. These efforts are crucial in areas like Acoma, where traditional addresses do not exist, making it difficult for residents to participate in elections.
Historical Challenges Faced by Native American Voters
The granting of citizenship to Native Americans in 1924 marked a significant milestone, yet the right to vote was withheld from many Indigenous people for years to come. States like Arizona and New Mexico enforced restrictive voting laws until the late 1940s, denying Native Americans access to the ballot. Efforts to disenfranchise Native American voters continued through discriminatory practices like literacy tests and the lack of polling stations on reservations.
Efforts to increase Native American voter participation have seen progress in recent years, with the election of individuals like Deb Haaland to Congress. The state’s new voting rights law provides tools for tribal communities to request more accessible voting locations and secure ballot boxes. Despite these advances, challenges still exist, including tensions with county election administrators and the revival of voter ID requirements in some states. Native Americans continue to fight for equal access to voting rights and representation in the political process.
