Tribal leaders, Indian volunteers and other activists are hoping to increase Native American turnout at the polls this year.

Although American Indians and Alaska Natives are less than 1 percent of the U.S. population, they have the power to tip races in key states. Many point to the recent Senate elections in South Dakota and Washington as proof.

With that in mind, the National Congress of American Indians is calling for 1 million Native votes this November. The all-volunteer effort is focusing on 17 states with significant Native populations.

Others are working for campaigns directly. Bruce Whalen, an Oglala Sioux, is working South Dakota's reservations on behalf of Republican John Thune, who lost the Native vote to Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) in 2002 and lost the election by 524 votes.

Native turnout for tribal elections is historically high, with up to 90 percent participation. But turnout in state and federal elections ranges from 20 percent to 40 percent, according to estimates.

Get the Story:
Finding a Voice in Politics (The Los Angeles Times 5/22)
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Finding a Voice in Politics (The Denver Rocky Mountain News 5/24)