A nationwide campaign to increase the Native vote has tribes, Democrats and Republicans hoping to make history, and victory, on November 2.

Tribes throughout the country are running their own get-out-the-vote efforts. They are signing up voters, taking them to the polls and educating members about the political process.

Democrats have placed a large number of workers in the field to sway Native voters their way. The Republican Party says it has 2,300 Native "team leaders."

The Indian vote could sway close races in Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington and Wisconsin. In the presidential race, New Mexico, Minnesota and Wisconsin are considered up for grabs. Nevada could go either way but is leaning towards Bush, observers say.

The Native vote could also affect three U.S. Senate race. In South Dakota, Sen. Tom Daschle and Republican John Thune have actively courted tribal members.

In Alaska, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Democrat Tony Knowles, a former governor, have reached out to Native villages. In Oklahoma, Rep. Brad Carson and Republican former congressman Tom Coburn are in a tight race but tribal issues have not been a major part of their campaigns.

Get the Story:
Democrats working to turn out Indian voters (The Great Falls Tribune 11/1)
Project pursues power of Indian vote (The Duluth News Tribune 11/1)
An Evolving Identity Helps to Leave Five States in Search of a President (The New York Times 10/30)
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Indians urged to vote (The Arizona Republic 10/31)
Native American Voters Draw More Attention (National Public Radio 10/30)
Rally aims to get tribal youth to vote (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 10/30)
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Native American vote could swing key races (Gannett News Service 10/29)

Relevant Links:
Native Vote 2004 - http://www.nativevote.org

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