{"id":17199,"date":"2021-10-22T16:41:07","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T20:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=17199"},"modified":"2021-10-22T19:57:29","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T23:57:29","slug":"cronkite-news-native-voting-rights-bill-caught-up-in-partisan-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/10\/22\/cronkite-news-native-voting-rights-bill-caught-up-in-partisan-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"Cronkite News: Native voting rights bill caught up in partisan debate"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"embed-responsive-item streaminghearing\" src=\"https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/isvp\/?comm=judiciary&#038;type=live&#038;stt=&#038;filename=judiciary102021p&#038;auto_play=false&#038;wmode=transparent&#038;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ejudiciary%2Esenate%2Egov%2Fthemes%2Fjudiciary%2Fimages%2Fvideo%2Dposter%2Dflash%2Dfit%2Epng\" width=\"570\" height=\"320\" allowfullscreen=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Senate Committee on the Judiciary \/ Subcommittee on The Constitution: <a href=https:\/\/www.judiciary.senate.gov\/meetings\/restoring-the-voting-rights-act-protecting-the-native-american-and-alaska-native-vote>Restoring the Voting Rights Act: Protecting the Native American and Alaska Native Vote &#8211; October 20, 2021<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Navajo president backs bill to protect Native American voting rights<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Friday, October 22, 2021<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Diannie Chavez <\/div>\r\n<DIV class=source>Cronkite News<\/DIV>\r\n<DIV class=source-website><A \r\nhref=\"https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/\">cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A><\/DIV>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. &#8211; Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez told a Senate panel Wednesday that special protections are needed to reverse the &#8220;very disrespectful&#8221; treatment of Native Americans who face extraordinary challenges in the voting process.<p><\/p>\r\nNez joined others urging a <a href=https:\/\/www.judiciary.senate.gov\/meetings\/restoring-the-voting-rights-act-protecting-the-native-american-and-alaska-native-vote>Senate Judiciary subcommittee<\/a> to support the Native American Voting Rights Act, which would set minimum federal requirements for voting on tribal lands, including early voting, mail-in balloting, ballot collecting and ID standards. [<a href=https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/117th-congress\/house-bill\/5008>H.R.5008<\/a> | <a href=https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/117th-congress\/senate-bill\/2702>S.2702<\/a>]<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;It&#8217;s not about Democrat or Republican,&#8221; Nez said. &#8220;It&#8217;s about doing the right thing.&#8221;<p><\/p>\r\nThis includes addressing the many voting barriers that are unique to Native Americans, such as the lack of voting locations on reservations, which makes it difficult for them to vote, Nez said.<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;Traveling to polling places can be particularly burdensome,&#8221; he said.<p><\/p>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/10\/22\/cronkite-news-native-voting-rights-bill-caught-up-in-partisan-debate\/indigenous-voting\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-17203\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-attachment-id=\"17203\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/10\/22\/cronkite-news-native-voting-rights-bill-caught-up-in-partisan-debate\/indigenous-voting\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/22\/jonathannez.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1333\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Diannie Chavez&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, left, said the Native American Voting Rights Act is needed to guarantee the vote on tribal lands, but attorney Sara Frankenstein, right, said the bill is too broad and will open the door to fraud. (Photo by Diannie Chavez\/Cronkite News)&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1634748559&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Indigenous Voting&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Jonathan Nez\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, left, said the Native American Voting Rights Act is needed to guarantee the vote on tribal lands, but attorney Sara Frankenstein, right, said the bill is too broad and will open the door to fraud. (Photo by Diannie Chavez\/Cronkite News)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/22\/jonathannez-1024x682.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/22\/jonathannez.jpg\" alt=\"Jonathan Nez\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-17203\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, left, said the Native American Voting Rights Act is needed to guarantee the vote on tribal lands, but attorney Sara Frankenstein, right, said the bill is too broad and will open the door to fraud.  Photo by Diannie Chavez \/ Cronkite News <\/figcaption>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nBut critics at the hearing said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/117\/bills\/s2702\/BILLS-117s2702is.pdf\">the bill<\/a> goes too far and would open tribal voting to abuse and fraud.<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;I agree that we should vigorously protect every American&#8217;s right to vote,&#8221; said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. &#8220;But unfortunately this bill \u2026 would expand voter fraud rather than combat it.&#8221;<p><\/p>\r\nCruz accused Democrats of using voting rights as a cover for election reforms aimed at &#8220;seizing power and ensuring Democrats stay in power for the next 100 years.&#8221;<p><\/p>\r\nThe hearing came less than an hour after Senate Republicans blocked debate Wednesday on the Freedom to Vote Act, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/117\/bills\/s2747\/BILLS-117s2747pcs.pdf\">voting rights bill<\/a> aimed at all Americans that would expand voter registration, increase early and mail-in voting and make Election Day a national holiday, among other measures.<p><\/p>\r\nThat bill was a slimmed-down version of the House-passed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/117th-congress\/house-bill\/1\">For the People Act <\/a>, which Senate Democrats had amended in hopes of getting some Republican support. But all 50 Senate Republicans <a href=\"https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/legislative\/LIS\/roll_call_lists\/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&amp;session=1&amp;vote=00420\">voted against<\/a> it Wednesday, denying Democrats the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster and proceed on the bill.<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Native American Voting Rights Act Social Media Toolkit: <a href=https:\/\/vote.narf.org\/>vote.narf.org<\/a><\/div>\r\n<div class=row><div class=col-6>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/30\/aaron-payment-protecting-treaty-rights-and-tribal-sovereignty-by-protecting-voting\/navra1\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-15364\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" data-attachment-id=\"15364\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/30\/aaron-payment-protecting-treaty-rights-and-tribal-sovereignty-by-protecting-voting\/navra1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/30\/navra1.png\" data-orig-size=\"1080,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Native American Voting Rights Act\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Native American Voting Rights Act Social Media Toolkit: &lt;a href=https:\/\/vote.narf.org\/&gt;vote.narf.org&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/30\/navra1-1024x1024.png\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/30\/navra1.png\" alt=\"Native American Voting Rights Act\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-15364\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> Native American Voting Rights Act Social Media Toolkit: <a href=https:\/\/vote.narf.org\/>vote.narf.org<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=col-6><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/30\/aaron-payment-protecting-treaty-rights-and-tribal-sovereignty-by-protecting-voting\/navra2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-15365\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" data-attachment-id=\"15365\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/30\/aaron-payment-protecting-treaty-rights-and-tribal-sovereignty-by-protecting-voting\/navra2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/30\/navra2.png\" data-orig-size=\"1080,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Native American Voting Rights Act\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Native American Voting Rights Act Social Media Toolkit: &lt;a href=https:\/\/vote.narf.org\/&gt;vote.narf.org&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/30\/navra2-1024x1024.png\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/30\/navra2.png\" alt=\"Native American Voting Rights Act\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15365\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> Native American Voting Rights Act Social Media Toolkit: <a href=https:\/\/vote.narf.org\/>vote.narf.org<\/a><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=row><div class=col-6>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/30\/aaron-payment-protecting-treaty-rights-and-tribal-sovereignty-by-protecting-voting\/navra3\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-15366\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" data-attachment-id=\"15366\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/30\/aaron-payment-protecting-treaty-rights-and-tribal-sovereignty-by-protecting-voting\/navra3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/30\/navra3.png\" data-orig-size=\"1080,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Native American Voting Rights Act\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Native American Voting Rights Act Social Media Toolkit: &lt;a href=https:\/\/vote.narf.org\/&gt;vote.narf.org&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/30\/navra3-1024x1024.png\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/30\/navra3.png\" alt=\"Native American Voting Rights Act\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-15366\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> Native American Voting Rights Act Social Media Toolkit: <a href=https:\/\/vote.narf.org\/>vote.narf.org<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/div><div class=col-6><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/30\/aaron-payment-protecting-treaty-rights-and-tribal-sovereignty-by-protecting-voting\/navra4\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-15367\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" data-attachment-id=\"15367\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/30\/aaron-payment-protecting-treaty-rights-and-tribal-sovereignty-by-protecting-voting\/navra4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/30\/navra4.png\" data-orig-size=\"1080,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Native American Voting Rights Act\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Native American Voting Rights Act Social Media Toolkit: &lt;a href=https:\/\/vote.narf.org\/&gt;vote.narf.org&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/30\/navra4-1024x1024.png\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/30\/navra4.png\" alt=\"Native American Voting Rights Act\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-15367\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> Native American Voting Rights Act Social Media Toolkit: <a href=https:\/\/vote.narf.org\/>vote.narf.org<\/a><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe Native American Voting Rights Act <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lujan.senate.gov\/press-releases\/lujan-leads-introduction-of-the-frank-harrison-elizabeth-peratrovich-and-miguel-trujillo-native-american-voting-rights-act-of-2021\/\">was introduced<\/a> in August by Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M., and has 17 co-sponsors, all Democrats. One of those co-sponsors, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif, said the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.padilla.senate.gov\/newsroom\/press-releases\/padilla-introduces-native-american-voting-rights-act-of-2021\/\">bill is needed<\/a> to &#8220;ensure that Tribal communities are not denied equal participation in our democratic process.&#8221;<p><\/p>\r\nThe bill would allow tribes to specify locations of voter registration sites, ballot drop boxes and polling locations on reservations and requires states to accept tribally issued ID cards as valid voting identification. It would also make it harder for states to cancel polling places, set minimum standards for early voting and require that states allow voters to give their ballot to someone else to deliver &#8211; even in states, like Arizona, that otherwise prohibit such so-called &#8220;ballot harvesting.&#8221;<p><\/p>\r\nSara Frankenstein said the bill is too broad and &#8220;takes control over elections out of the hands of the election administrator, for which he is trained and elected. This raises several legal and practical concerns.\u201d<p><\/p>\r\n\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/10\/22\/cronkite-news-native-voting-rights-bill-caught-up-in-partisan-debate\/indigenous-voting-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-17204\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-attachment-id=\"17204\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/10\/22\/cronkite-news-native-voting-rights-bill-caught-up-in-partisan-debate\/indigenous-voting-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/22\/jonathannez.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1333\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Diannie Chavez&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, center, told a Senate Judiciary subcommittee left, said that the treatment of Native American voters is \\&quot;very disrespectful,\\&quot; which is why a bill extending new protections to voting on tribal lands is needed. (Photo by Diannie Chavez\/Cronkite News)&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1634748459&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Indigenous Voting&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Jonathan Nez\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, center, told a Senate Judiciary subcommittee left, said that the treatment of Native American voters is &amp;#8220;very disrespectful,&amp;#8221; which is why a bill extending new protections to voting on tribal lands is needed. (Photo by Diannie Chavez\/Cronkite News)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/22\/jonathannez-1024x682.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/22\/jonathannez.jpeg\" alt=\"Jonathan Nez\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-17204\" \/><\/a> <figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, center, told a Senate Judiciary subcommittee left, said that the treatment of Native American voters is &#8220;very disrespectful,&#8221; which is why a bill extending new protections to voting on tribal lands is needed.  Photo by Diannie Chavez \/ Cronkite News <\/figcaption>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nFrankenstein, a South Dakota attorney who represents election officials and handles election law cases, pointed to the bill&#8217;s requirement that Native American voters can have their absentee ballots sent to a public building, since many homes on reservations do not have street addresses. Having hundreds of ballots arrive at a public building &#8211; and with no person in charge &#8211; can lead to fraud because there is no way to know the ballot was received by the correct owner, she said at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.judiciary.senate.gov\/meetings\/restoring-the-voting-rights-act-protecting-the-native-american-and-alaska-native-vote\">the hearing.<\/a><p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;This is a solution in search of a problem,&#8221; Frankenstein said.<p><\/p>\r\nThat was echoed by Wyoming Secretary of State Edward Buchanan, who said that the measures would not increase security or confidence in the vote but would only lead to doubt in the election process.<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;You cannot have an election that people don&#8217;t believe in,&#8221; Buchanan said. &#8220;Because if they don&#8217;t believe that the result has integrity, you will drive down election participation.&#8221;<p><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHe pointed to the ballot harvesting requirement, which said states &#8220;may not allow any limit on how many voted and sealed absentee ballots any designated person can return.&#8221; That would lead to fraud because there would be no way to know that absentee ballots were delivered to a registered voter.<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;There is no way it can&#8217;t happen, and the hard part is that you won&#8217;t even know that it is happening,&#8221; Buchanan said.<p><\/p>\r\nBut supporters said ballot collections, drop boxes and absentee ballots address very real problems on tribal lands.<p><\/p>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/10\/22\/cronkite-news-native-voting-rights-bill-caught-up-in-partisan-debate\/indigenous-voting-3\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-17205\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-attachment-id=\"17205\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/10\/22\/cronkite-news-native-voting-rights-bill-caught-up-in-partisan-debate\/indigenous-voting-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/22\/jonathannezbenraylujan.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1333\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Diannie Chavez&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, left, and Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., the lead sponsor of the Native American Voting Rights Act that would extend new protections to the vote on tribal lands, talk before a Senate Judiciary subcomittee hearing on the bill. (Photo by Diannie Chavez\/Cronkite News)&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1634744016&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Indigenous Voting&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Jonathan Nez and Ben Ray Lujan\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, left, and Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., the lead sponsor of the Native American Voting Rights Act that would extend new protections to the vote on tribal lands, talk before a Senate Judiciary subcomittee hearing on the bill. (Photo by Diannie Chavez\/Cronkite News)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/22\/jonathannezbenraylujan-1024x682.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/22\/jonathannezbenraylujan.jpg\" alt=\"Jonathan Nez and Ben Ray Lujan\"  class=\"size-full wp-image-17205\" \/><\/a> <figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, left, and Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, (D-New Mexico), the lead sponsor of the Native American Voting Rights Act that would extend new protections to the vote on tribal lands, talk before a Senate Judiciary subcomittee hearing on the bill. Photo by Diannie Chavez \/ Cronkite News)<\/figcaption>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIn the 2018 election, Navajo voters in Arizona had to travel up to 236 miles round trip to participate in early voting, Nez said. Tribal members may not own a vehicle that will let them make that trip on their own, and many may not have mailing addresses needed to get a mail-in ballot.<p><\/p>\r\nJacqueline De Le\u00f3n, staff attorney for the Native American Rights Fund, said the difficulty Indigenous voters face &#8220;also communicates to Native Americans that their vote is unwelcomed.&#8221;<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;What is being communicated \u2026 is that your vote doesn&#8217;t matter and that you&#8217;re not part of the American system,&#8221; she said.<p><\/p><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><p><\/p>\r\nDe Le\u00f3n said the lack of home addresses on tribal lands and requirement of an ID in some states are examples of &#8220;ongoing discrimination and governmental neglect.&#8221;<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;Many Native Americans live in overcrowded homes that do not have addresses, do not receive mail, and are located on dirt roads that can be impassable in the wintery November,\u201d De Le\u00f3n said.<p><\/p>\r\nDe Le\u00f3n and Nez rejected the fears of fraud raised by critics, saying protections are still built into the law and election fraud would still be illegal. They pointed instead to the rights that are being denied under the current law, which is why the new law is needed.<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;We need to make sure the rights of Indigenous peoples are protected,&#8221; Nez said. &#8220;There should be a responsibility to fight for Indigenous peoples&#8217; rights.&#8221;<p><\/p>\r\n<STRONG>For more stories from Cronkite News, visit <A href=\"https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=client\">cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A>.<\/STRONG>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<HR><EM>Note: This story originally <a href=\"https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/2021\/10\/20\/navajo-president-backs-bill-to-protect-native-american-voting-rights\/\">appeared on Cronkite News<\/a>.  It  is published via a <A href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative  Commons license<\/A>. Cronkite News is produced by the <A href=\"https:\/\/cronkite.asu.edu\/\">Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication<\/A> at <A href=\"https:\/\/www.asu.edu\">Arizona State University<\/A>.<\/EM><HR>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Senate Committee on the Judiciary \/ Subcommittee on The Constitution<\/div>\r\n<a href=https:\/\/www.judiciary.senate.gov\/meetings\/restoring-the-voting-rights-act-protecting-the-native-american-and-alaska-native-vote>Restoring the Voting Rights Act: Protecting the Native American and Alaska Native Vote<\/a> (October 20, 2021)<\/a>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h4-responsive\">Related Stories<\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/09\/27\/chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-works-to-protect-native-voting-rights\/\" title=\"Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation works to protect Native voting rights\">Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation works to protect Native voting rights<\/a> (September 27, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/09\/17\/gaylord-news-voting-rights-bill-addresses-long-standing-obstacles-in-indian-country\/\" title=\"Gaylord News: Voting rights bill addresses long-standing obstacles in Indian Country\">Gaylord News: Voting rights bill addresses long-standing obstacles in Indian Country<\/a> (September 17, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/30\/aaron-payment-protecting-treaty-rights-and-tribal-sovereignty-by-protecting-voting\/\" title=\"Aaron Payment: Protecting treaty rights and tribal sovereignty by protecting voting\">Aaron Payment: Protecting treaty rights and tribal sovereignty by protecting voting<\/a> (August 30, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/07\/28\/vice-president-kamala-harris-and-secretary-deb-haaland-native-american-voting-rights\/\" title=\"Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary Deb Haaland: Native American Voting Rights\">Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary Deb Haaland: Native American Voting Rights<\/a> (July 28, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/07\/09\/tribes-and-tribal-citizens-accuse-south-dakota-of-violating-voting-laws\/\" title=\"Tribes and tribal citizens accuse South Dakota of violating voting laws\">Tribes and tribal citizens accuse South Dakota of violating voting laws<\/a> (July 9, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/06\/23\/cronkite-news-republicans-block-passage-of-voting-rights-bill\/\" title=\"Cronkite News: Republicans block passage of voting rights bill\">Cronkite News: Republicans block passage of voting rights bill<\/a> (June 23, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/05\/27\/cronkite-news-native-voting-rights-debated-on-capitol-hill\/\" title=\"Cronkite News: Native voting rights debated on Capitol Hill\">Cronkite News: Native voting rights debated on Capitol Hill<\/a> (May 27, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/05\/21\/montana-free-press-indian-lawmakers-focus-on-big-issues\/\" title=\"Montana Free Press: Indian lawmakers focus on big issues\">Montana Free Press: Indian lawmakers focus on big issues<\/a> (May 21, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/10\/26\/cronkite-news-pascua-yaqui-tribe-loses-voting-rights-case\/\" title=\"Cronkite News: Pascua Yaqui Tribe loses voting rights case\">Cronkite News: Pascua Yaqui Tribe loses voting rights case<\/a> (October 26, 2020)","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Native American Voting Rights Act will set minimum federal requirements for voting on tribal lands, including early voting, mail-in balloting, ballot collecting and ID standards.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17203,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,13,1,14],"tags":[869,1596,370,46,94,2105,1938,1940,2102,28,8,55,24,85,1941,2103,2104,91,98,2101,27,177,356],"class_list":["post-17199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indian-trust","category-law","category-national","category-politics","tag-117th","tag-alex-padilla","tag-ben-ray-lujan","tag-cronkite-news","tag-democrats","tag-edward-buchanan","tag-h-r-1","tag-h-r-5008","tag-jacqueline-de-leon","tag-jonathan-nez","tag-narf","tag-native-vote","tag-navajo","tag-republicans","tag-s-2702","tag-s-2747","tag-sara-frankenstein","tag-senate","tag-south-dakota","tag-ted-cruz","tag-texas","tag-voting-rights","tag-wyoming","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/22\/jonathannez.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-4tp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17199"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17199\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}