American Democracy Minute | Radio Report & Podcast on Democracy Issues

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for July 14, 2023

Map: US Commission on Civil Rights Driving distances to early voting location on the Sisseton and Wahpeton Indian Reservation.

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)

Today’s Links now below the script

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

We’re in South Dakota today where a new report issued by the bipartisan U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found that Native Americans still face barriers to voting, like distance to a polling place, gerrymandered districts, and confusing voter ID rules.

The Commission’s South Dakota Advisory Committee surveyed native voters and found most traveled long distances to vote in person or to drop off a mail-in ballot due to the lack of rural mail delivery. The committee recommended mobile voting centers, use of accessible Indian Health Centers and Veterans Affairs offices as polling locations, more drop boxes, and increases in U.S. Postal Service locations.

By South Dakota law, voting materials may only appear in English. The advisory committee found that 11,000 tribal members spoke a native language at home, and language was a barrier for voting. It recommended repeal of South Dakota’s English-only law, use of federal HAVA funds to provide alternate language materials, and additional poll worker education on the use of interpreters.

The survey also found suspicion of non-native government, including during the voter registration process. Other’s surveyed noted the intimidating presence of law enforcement at polling places. The committee encouraged the South Dakota state government to pass a state version of the Native American Voting Rights Act, which could access federal funding to implement THEIR recommendations and others.

We have a link to the report at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights – Report: Voting Rights and Access in South Dakota
South Dakota Searchlight – Civil rights committee finds Native voting rights impeded, finalizes recommendations
Library of Congress – Voting Rights for Native Americans
Brigham Young University – Poll Booth Proximity, Tribal ID, and Bilingual Accessibility:
Three Provisions to Increase Native American Turnout in the Native American Voting Rights Act Of 2019
Sioux Falls Argus Leader – Native Americans’ right to vote has always been a question in South Dakota