NARF Voting Rights Actions In Congress

Native American Voting Rights Act (NAVRA)

The Frank Harrison, Elizabeth Peratrovich, and Miguel Trujillo Native American Voting Rights Act of 2021 (NAVRA) is bipartisan legislation. It was introduced in the Senate on August 10, 2021, and in the House on August 13, 2021. The United States has a trust responsibility to enact voting rights legislation to protect the constitutionally guaranteed right of Native Americans to vote. Despite the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924 and the Nationality Act in 1940, Native American voters continue to face unique challenges when exercising their right to vote.

Tellingly, in voting rights litigation, Native Americans have won an astounding 90+% of the cases they have brought. Federal legislation is sorely needed to establish baseline, consistent standards for voting in Indian Country, particularly given that Native Americans continue to incur costly legal fees to defend their right to franchise from state and county laws and practices that seek to disenfranchise Native American voters.

In order to protect the right to vote on Indian lands, any legislation passed must address the distinct issues confronting Native American voters, including:

• Geographic isolation, often with lack of reliable transportation and poor access to distant polling and registration locations;
• Non-traditional mailing addresses, overcrowded housing, homelessness, and housing instability;
• Lack of residential mail delivery and limited access to post offices;
• Lack of access to affordable and reliable broadband service;
• Native language translation needs, including non-written, during voting process;
• Strong socioeconomic challenges, such as poverty and unemployment;
• Historic and ongoing mistrust of state and local governments.

Related Legislative Hearings:

Over the years, NARF staff have provided expert testimony to help legislators understand the unique experiences of Native American voters. Much of our testimony is based on the findings included in our report,  Obstacles at Every Turn: Barriers to Political Participation Faced by Native American Voters.

October 20, 2021
Restoring the Voting Rights Act: Protecting the Native American and Alaska Native Vote. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on the Constitution.

October 27, 2021
Business Meeting to consider H.R.1688 & Oversight Hearing on “Voting Matters in Native Communities. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

May 24, 2021
Voting In America: The Potential For Voter ID Laws, Proof-Of-Citizenship Laws, And Lack Of Multi-Lingual Support To Interfere With Free And Fair Access To The Ballot. U.S. Committee on House Administration Subcommittee on Elections.

April 22, 2021
Oversight of the Voting Rights Act: The Evolving Landscape of Voting Discrimination. U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

February 11, 2020
Native American Voting Rights: Exploring Barriers And Solutions. U.S. Committee on House Administration Subcommittee on Elections.

September 10, 2019
Evidence of Current and Ongoing Voting Discrimination. U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

July 17, 2018
Roundtable on “Voting Rights, Access, and Barriers in Indian Country.” U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

Support for NAVRA

NARF joined multiple tribal organizations and civil rights organizations in their strong endorsement of the  Frank Harrison, Elizabeth Peratrovich, and Miguel Trujillo Native American Voting Rights Act of 2021.  

Letter of support signatories included: