Statistics play big role in Indian voting rights case

Friday, February 9, 2007  

Statistics play a big role in a trial that will determine whether Fremont County in Wyoming has violated the voting rights of tribal members.

The five plaintiffs say county's at-large system dilutes the power of the Indian vote. To do that, they must show that the Indian population is large enough and geographically centered enough to make a difference, that Indian voters are politically cohesive and that the majority population votes against candidates preferred by Indians.

Experts hired by the plaintiffs and the county have been providing testimony at the trial, which started on Monday. Both sides are relying on statistics to prove, or refute, the Indian voting rights claim.

The plaintiffs are members of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and the Northern Arapaho Tribe. The Wind River Reservation is located in Fremont County.

The county y is being represented by Mountain States Legal Foundation, a conservative legal group that has lost other Indian voting rights cases. Former Interior secretary Gale Norton used to work for the group.

Get the Story:
Indians, county spar over voting analysis (The Casper Star-Tribune 2/8)

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