"For decades after they were condescendingly deemed citizens, the nation's Indians were ignored by politicians and left in neglected and isolated communities without power or representation. As late as 1985, the small Dakota Indian tribe at Prior Lake had to go to federal court to force the city of Prior Lake to permit tribal members to vote in city elections.

Suddenly, however, the native vote looms large.

All sides are making huge efforts to get out the vote this year: Everything from recorded phone messages from George W. Bush urging voters to apply for absentee ballots to a concerted overseas effort to make sure that troops in uniform get to exercise their franchise. With a close election and a rising appreciation of the stakes involved, it should be no surprise that Indians are making a nonpartisan but nationally coordinated effort to turn out the vote."

Get the Story:
Nick Coleman: This may be the year the native vote counts (The Minnestota Star Tribune 9/10)
pwlat

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

Native vote campaign targets Indians in Minnesota (9/8)