Justice Department eyes voting reforms for American Indians
Source: Associated Press
Justice Department eyes voting reforms for American Indians
By FELICIA FONSECA, Associated Press | May 21, 2015 | Updated: May 21, 2015 5:00pm
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking legislation that would require state and local election officials to work with American Indian tribes to locate at least one polling place on or near each tribe's land.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the changes are needed because "significant and unnecessary barriers" exist for American Indians and Alaska Natives who want to cast ballots. American Indians sometimes have to travel great distances to vote, face language barriers and, in places like Alaska, do not have the same amount of time to vote as others.
The Justice Department outlined its proposal in letters Thursday to House Speaker John Boehner and Vice President Joe Biden, after a year of consultation with tribes on voting access.
"This is an important step forward to saying Native votes are just as important," said Jacqueline Pata, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians. "In our communities, having access definitely will make the difference in making tribal leadership feel like citizens of America and be able to vote."
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Justice-Department-eyes-voting-reforms-for-6278920.php
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Seriously. I cannot friggin' believe this wasn't taken care of fifty years ago! embarrassing too embarrassing .
Need I say more?
Thomas Jefferson wrote and used the self sustaining government of the Iroquois Nation as a model for writing the U.S. Constitution.
The First Nations human beings were given that sovereignty as it was written into the Constitution for a purpose.
On the Pine Ridge Reservation (South Dakota) and any reservation for this matter, has more poor housing, Highest unemployment rate of anyone in this country, and lowest education sustainability to graduate from a school in the country because of the lack of Senators and Congressional personnel to ensure that the First Nations are to be recognized.
But in South Dakota this is what happening:
http://www.allgov.com/news/controversies/pine-ridge-sioux-must-travel-27-miles-from-reservation-to-vote-140924?news=854340
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/11/01/who-called-sheriff-pine-ridge-voter-turnout-plummets-then-rebounds-157641
This is a blatant attempt to intimidate voting on the Reservation(s), and this needs to be addressed immediately if there is going to be credibility on this issue.
I fully support Ms. Lynch and what she going to do.
But the first item on the bucket list is to have a friendly talk with those like this "sheriff" that are trying, in all appearances, to suppress this Sovereign Nations voice and express this right.
Apparently, he (this sheriff) has forgotten that there is a tribal police for a reason, and that the U.S. government is the one that speaks too the First Nations people.
So, before a county sheriff shows up at the door step of any tribal polling place or is just cruising around because he got lost (snarky comment).
Just maybe he better ask permission with the First Nations people on the Reservation and the FEDS, what he did is a violation of the LAW(S).
And has a added caveat, if it wasn't for the Navajo and Sioux code breakers, this country was in deep trouble with the Japanese during WWII, maybe he should thank the First Nations people for this big fact, before he tries to intimidate, this our Sovereign right
We will see what you do Ms. Lynch
Cherokee Proud
