One Million New Native Voters Sought For 2004 Election

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One Million New Native Voters Sought For 2004 Election
	Verenda Dosela

“The days are past where one party took you for granted so they didn’t court your votes, and the other party didn’t know you existed.”
–Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell

“This next presidential election is going to be an important one, as all elections are. If you do not vote, your voice will not be heard.”
—Ethan Bach, IAIA Database Administrator

SANTA FE –Native American leaders are laboring to get one million new Indian voters to the polls in November, according to a recent Associated Press report. The 2000 Census shows 1.6 million Indians of voting age could be first time voters.

“In about half of the competitive Senate races, Native Americans are going to be highly courted. I think that Republicans and Democrats alike believe this is going to be a major priority,” said David Magleby, Brigham Young University dean of social sciences.

Native Vote No Longer Taken For Granted

Native American votes could decide the Senate winner in Alaska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Colorado. The only Indian senator, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., told Indian leaders recently, “The days are past where one party took you for granted so they didn’t court your votes, and the other party didn’t know you existed.”

The AP reports that the Republicans realize that there is a risk in not recognizing that Native voters could determine the winner. They are making great efforts to woo the Native voters who are predominantly Democrats.

A Native American Caucus was established at the 2000 Democratic convention. Native Americans were included in the Democratic Party platform, which states in part, “As we move into the 21st century, we have to renew our trust obligations and work to improve the lives of the many Indians who live in terrible poverty. The Democratic Party pledges to continue our work to make a difference in the lives of the many Indians…We affirm the legal and political relationship between the United States and Native Hawaiians as an important step in the continuing process of reconciliation.”

N.M. state Rep. Irvin Harrison, D-Gallup, who is Dine, attended the 2000 Democratic convention as a delegate. “I expect the Native American Caucus will be formed again during this upcoming convention to draft language on tribal issues for the platform,” he said.

The Associated Press identified states where Native American Indian voters will greatly affect the outcome of the elctions. The percentage of Indian voters in each state is indicated first.

Native Voter Registration Drive Underway

National Congress of American Indians officials told the AP about their non-partisan efforts with Indian organizations on reservations and in places like Albuquerque with high Native concentration. They are registering people to vote by going door to door, and setting up booths at fairs and reservation gatherings, according to Jacqueline Johnson, NCAI executive director.

NCAI President Tex Hall, who also is chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation in North Dakota, believes one million new voters is a “very attainable number.” However, Geoff Peterson, a political science professor from University of Wisconsin at Eau Clair, who has studied Indian-voter trends, said, “I would not bet the farm on it. It’s a nice goal to set. I think they’ll get the number up. I think doubling it is probably wishful thinking. ”

The AP reported that Indian votes could have a significant influence as demonstrated in recent elections. Washington state’s First American Education Project rallied Indian voters to oppose Republican Sen. Slade Gorton, who did not agree with tribes on tribal governance and mining. Their efforts brought 9000 first-time Native voters to the election and he lost by 2,000 votes. New Mexico’s 9.5 percent Native American made Al Gore a winner in 2000 by 366 votes.

No Vote, No Voice

“This next presidential election is going to be an important one, as all elections are. If you do not vote, your voice will not be heard,” said IAIA database administrator, Ethan Bach, in a Register-To-Vote message sent to the Institute of American Indians Arts community.

Registering to vote is easy. Just go to http://www.fec.gov/votregis/pdf/nvra.pdf and print out pages five and six. Fill that out and mail it to your state elections office. In a few weeks you will receive a voter’s card letting you know where to vote.

Native American Voting organizations can be found at www. nativeamerican/Indian/voters.