Though Native Americans were granted U.S. citizenship in 1924, it wasn’t until the 1970s that all Native Americans could vote. This year, during the U.S. mid-term elections, many groups across the nation gathered to identify the unique needs and challenges faced by Native voters to help promote public education, identify policy solutions, and advance other legal remedies to expand Native access to voting.
One such group is the Native American Voting Rights Coalition (NAVRC) who is protecting voting rights and fostering voter engagement in Native communities nationwide, began holding field hearings across the country to hear individual experiences and document successes of voter turnout to replicate.
Another group, the California Native Vote Project (CNVP) seeks to create historic advancements in Native American voter engagement in California. With an aim to achieve equity for Native American peoples and increase our communities’ political participation throughout the state CNVP registers thousands of voters for upcoming elections. Sociology@UCSantaCruz alum Lea Monique Chavez works with the CNVP to bring Native power to the polls in California by registering people to vote. Lea was from the class of 2000 and advised by Professor Hiroshi Fukurai.
For election results visit: https://www.facebook.com/CANativeVote/
