The Native American Voting Rights Act (NAVRA) is an important piece of legislation aimed at eliminating the obstacles that prevent Tribal members from voting in federal, state, and non-Tribal elections. Native Americans face unique challenges, such as limited access to polling places, language barriers, and discrimination. The reintroduction and passage of NAVRA are crucial to guarantee that every Native American can exercise their right to vote and have a say in the decisions that impact their lives. Native people deserve equal access to the ballot box. One of the key benefits of NAVRA is that it protects Tribal sovereignty. When Native Americans vote, they can choose representatives who understand and respect their autonomy, allowing them to safeguard their sovereignty and ensure their voices are heard in decisions that affect their communities and way of life.

NOA is working with partners like the Native American Rights Fund and the National Congress of American Indians advocating for the reintroduction and passage of the Native American Voting Rights Act (NAVRA) at the federal level. We’re collaborating with Tribal leaders and lawmakers in the House and Senate to advance this critical legislation which will remove many of the structural barriers that prevent Tribal members from voting in federal, state, and other non-Tribal elections.

Elected officials make decisions that affect our access to water, our access to sacred lands, the welfare of our children, the right of our young people to wear their regalia at graduation, and more. For Native people, exercising our right to vote is about choosing representatives who understand and respect our rights and our way of life. Native votes help protect our sovereignty. That’s why we need NAVRA to ensure every Native person can vote in 2024 and beyond.