Getting out the Indigenous Vote
Welcome to Eastern Woodland Lacrosse, we are working in the state of NC to make sure indigenous voices are being heard. Election Day is November 3rd! In states where mail ballots must be received by Election Day it is now too late to mail in your ballot, but you can still drop off your ballot, vote early, or vote on Election Day. To learn more about how to make your voice heard in this election, you can select your state below. We are working with Native Organizers Alliance and Battleground Indian Country.
If you witness or experience voter intimidation while voting, please call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). The 2020 election is an inflection point to further build Native peoples’ visibility and political power by ensuring that Native voices are heard. Our communities have untapped power because of our history, our ancestors—we must use it in many ways from the streets to the ballot box. Our collective power is necessary to move our work forward. Our organizations have joined together to provide information, resources, and content to drive voter engagement in Indian Country.
The 2020 election is an inflection point to build Native peoples’ visibility and political power by ensuring that Native voices, particularly those of Native women and young people, are heard and part of the progressive movement. The Native vote will be crucial in key states like Wisconsin, Arizona, South Dakota, Minnesota, New Mexico, Michigan, and Nevada.
Natives Vote is a national campaign bringing together Native artists and storytellers with grassroots communities, organizers and influencers to increase Native voter registration and mobilize a historic voter turnout across Indian Country.
Our network of Native influencers will share creative content that is being commissioned by Native artists to inspire and motivate Native people to vote in the 2020 election. Influencer posts will encourage people to:
1) Find out how to vote safely in your state.
2) Make a voting plan: Mask or Mail.
3) Form your squad to motivate friends and family to vote on Nov. 3 or before.
We recognize that many people are discouraged by the political process and some may be disappointed in the presidential candidates. When you post, you may get feedback from your followers that expresses this frustration and disappointment. Below are some ways to respond. Additionally, this post provides historical and contemporary context for the importance of the Native vote.
Be honest. It’s okay to acknowledge that the system we have hasn’t worked well for lots of different types of communities in the United States. Voter disenfranchisement is real, and our leaders have failed us on many occasions. The frustration many people feel comes from these realities. This post is a good example of how to do this.
Focus on the future. From the protests against systemic racism to the wins on Native mascots, court rulings in favor of NoDapl and affirming Native treaty rights, and the stand NDN Collective took at the Black Hills, this election is a chance to build Native peoples’ visibility and political power. In 2020, the Native vote is politically significant, our vote will be a highly educated vote because it is directly related to changing the conditions in our communities. It is a step towards a future United States which recognizes our inherent right to sovereignty as part of a deeply democratic political system.
Remind people they are voting for more than the president. Voting for a new President is important, but we must also consider the judges that a president appoints, the balance of power in Congress, and our state, local, and tribal leaders. Judges make important decisions that affect us all and uphold treaty rights. State and local officials have an impact on things like funding our schools and emergency services.
Remind people that voting is one of many tactics. Democracy requires many types of participation—voting is only one form of participation. No matter who wins a particular election in November, we must organize, march, sign petitions, and hold our representatives accountable.
