For three election cycles, Colorado Law has partnered with a number of external partners to seek to increase Indigenous Peoples’ access to the polls. This project has evolved alongside the changing legal landscape. The Native vote is significant. For example, in 2020, President Biden won Arizona by 10,000 votes. Voters on Hopi and Navajo reservations in Arizona cast nearly 60,000 ballots. Yet, in Arizona there is a history of language barriers, harassment at polling locations, bans on ballot collection, and challenges to registration and voting because of the geographic distance and poor road infrastructure. For the Kaibab Paiute, early voting is 285 miles away or a five to seven hour trip around the Grand Canyon. Arizona provides an important example, but it reflects what is occurring in many other states with discriminatory voting laws. Even where the laws don’t intend to restrict access to the polls, they may not be written with rural Native America in mind. These disparate impacts can include the barriers exacerbated by the broadband gap; long distances to few polling locations; non-traditional addresses; and tribal IDs. There are a number of organizations dedicated to expanding Native access to the polls through litigation, legal advocacy, policy, and on-the-ground service. At Colorado Law, we seek to fill any gaps in this work by contributing the work of our student attorneys so that Indigenous Peoples have the knowledge and ability to cast a ballot during an election year.

Increasing Native Access to Vote continues continue the ongoing project in several ways during the fall of an election year. First, we will outreach to new and former partners to determine in what ways we can continue or contribute work and determine ways to support voting initiatives locally. We will work to address these needs and to provide Native-specific training on the right to vote and how to cast a ballot in the state of Colorado. This training includes outreach via tabling at Indigenous-centered events. We also provide on-the-ground election protection work on election day in November 2024 where our physical presence will best serve the mission of this project, to make sure all Native voters who wish to cast a ballot are able to do so.

• Outreach and Tabling to Provide Voter Information

  Additional Info

  American Indian Law Clinic students provide outreach at Indigenous-centered events and/or events hosted by Indigenous-led organizations to provide Native-specific voter information.

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  Location

  in colorado

  Towaoc

  Dates

  8/31/2024 - 11/6/2024

  Public or Private

  Public Program (open to the public)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  Online Resource

  https://www.nativesvote.com/