Disenfranchisement in 2026? Obstacles persist for Native Americans looking to vote
Despite efforts to increase voter participation among Native American populations nationwide, tribal members in parts of Arizona and New Mexico are experiencing declines due to difficulties within the registration, qualification and ballot submission processes, data from a new study shows.
MAP Strategies Group
Native populations from Apache and Navajo counties in Arizona, and Cibola, McKinley and San Juan counties in New Mexico are steadily being squeezed out of the elections process, a new report by Native American Rights Fund shows.
Data illustrates problems with new and automatic voter registration through state motor vehicle departments, select mail-in ballots, the curing of ballots and other factors that disproportionately disenfranchise Native American voters, the data shows.
The full report outlines how despite national efforts to include more Native Americans in national elections, select areas appear to be deploying classic ‘red-lining’ techniques that make it difficult to register to vote and actually cast ballots, hotly contested Arizona included.