The Leadership Conference for Civil Rights released a report on Native American voting rights in South Dakota.

Janine Pease, a member of the Crow Tribe, authored "Voting Rights in South Dakota 1982-2006." Her report said Native Americans face discrimination and outright hostility at the polls.

Native voters have filed more than a dozen voting rights cases in the state. Most have been resolved in favor of Native voters.

Native voters have also gone to the polls in record numbers, although their participation rate still lags the rest of the state.

The report was written as Congress considers reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. The Leadership Conference for Civil Rights said the report shows the law is still needed.

Get the Story:
Voting-rights report slams S.D. (The Rapid City Journal 5/18)
Report: Voting rights unfair (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 5/18)

Civil Rights Report:
Voting Rights in South Dakota, 1982-2006 (May 17, 2006)

Rcent Voting Rights Court Decision:
Pearl Cottier v. Martin (May 5, 2006)

Case Documents:
Pearl Cottier v. City of Martin (8th Circuit Court of Appeals)

Relevant Links:
Leadership Conference for Civil Rights - http://www.civilrights.org
American Civil Liberties Union of the Dakotas - http://www.acludakotas.org

Related Stories:
Editorial: Racial injustice in South Dakota (5/15)
Native voting rights case revived by court (5/8)
Voting Rights Act up for reauthorization (03/27)
Indian votes sought in South Dakota county (01/23)
South Dakota county to redraw voting districts (11/16)
South Dakota county violates Native voting rights (10/31)
South Dakota cleared for appeal on voting rights (10/07)
South Dakota appeals Native voting rights case (08/09)
NCAI joins push to reauthorize Voting Rights Act (8/2)
Court bars state in Native voting rights case (07/15)
Editorial: Redraw districts for Native voting rights (07/15)
Editorial: Stop stalling on Native voting rights (7/14)
Lawmakers set for appeal of voting rights case (7/12)
Lawmakers weigh appeal of voting rights case (7/11)
Judge rejects claim in Indian voting rights lawsuit (3/25)
South Dakota Supreme Court to hear voting rights case (03/16)
Indian voters oppose bill aimed at settling lawsuit (03/01)
Suit challenges South Dakota county's voting districts (01/28)
South Dakota court takes voting rights question (01/24)
Editorial: Stop delaying Native voting rights case (12/16)
South Dakota Indians seek action on voting rights (12/13)
South Dakota seeks delay in Native voting case (11/02)
Editorial: Don't appeal Indian voting rights case (09/28)
Judge: South Dakota violated Indian voting rights (09/16)
Federal judge to issue voting rights ruling this summer (05/04)
ACLU rests case in Indian voting rights trial (04/23)
S.D. Indians testify of racism in voting rights trial (04/15)
Trial into Indian voting rights in South Dakota continues (4/14)
Trial examines Indian voting rights in South Dakota (4/13)
Indian voters least likely to have identification (10/28)
County won't allow Indians to use tribal ID to register (10/06)
Panel holds hearing on South Dakota voter ID law (07/16)
Voter ID law seen as attempt to suppress Indian vote (7/7)
Tribal college president calls for repeal of ID law (7/2)
Indian voter complaints referred to authorities (6/29)
Group files suit over problems Indian voters faced (6/28)
Editorial: Indian vote hearings won't do any good (06/17)
Daschle seeks hearings over Indian voter problems (6/15)
S.D. ID law passed to 'turn Native voters down' (6/11)
Tom Daschle: Indian Country shows its clout (6/10)
Lawsuits planned for problems Indian voters faced (6/10)
South Dakota Indian vote doubled last week (6/7)
Republican admits Indian voters decided election (6/4)
Russell Means ready to give up on Republican Party (6/3)
Voting problems reported by South Dakota Indians (6/3)
Democrat Stephanie Herseth heads to House (6/2)
Battle is on for Indian voters in South Dakota (04/26)
Lakota man pleased with Cheney visit to support Thune (03/09)
Indian Republican surprised that party accepts him (03/05)
Thune urges GOP to reach out to Indian voters (01/26)
CNN host unapologetic for Indian vote 'uproar' (1/12)
Tribal official says host hurts Republican Party (01/12)
CNN host accuses Indians of stealing Senate election (1/9)
Native voters in S.D. county make history (01/08)
Indian vote eyed in race between Thune, Daschle (1/7)
Indian voter fraud claims linger after election (12/10)
S.D. county elects Native leaders (11/08)
Indian votes helped Johnson (11/7)
Indians mobilize to defeat white leaders (10/31)