President Bush signed a 25-year extension to the Voting Rights Act into law at a White House ceremony on Thursday.

The law requires certain states like South Dakota, where discrimination against Native Americans has been proven, to obtain federal approval of any changes in voting plans. It also requires ballots to be printed in Native languages when the Native population reaches a certain percentage.

The National Congress of American Indians praised the extension when it was approved by Congress earlier this month. "Now, the rights of Native people who seek to have their votes counted and voices heard, will continue to be protected through the bill's temporary provisions that benefit American Indians and Alaskan Natives," said NCAI President Joe Garcia.

Get the Story:
Tribes ready for voting rules (The Colorado Springs Gazette 7/28)
Bush Signs Voting Rights Act Extension (The Washington Post 7/28)
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Voting Rights Legislation:
Voting Rights Reauthorization (H.R.9)

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

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