ApachesVote.org Formed To Help Voter Registration

Voter Registration

( – promoted by navajo)

Cross-posted from Daily Kos

The White Mountain Apache Reservation is half the size of Connecticut with 10 registered Democrats for every one Republican. A key to winning AZ-01 is to increase the voter registration and turnout of Native Americans on the Apache Reservation and other reservations in the sprawling district.

ApachesVote.org has been formed to help fulfill this important mission. Our step-by-step plan is here. To contribute, please follow this link.. If you only have a moment to post a comment, it would really help to seed our blogs.

We would appreciate feedback from the community on our plan, on how to reach fund-raising sources and how to coordinate with other voter registration groups.  

AZ-01 has been identified as the third most likely district in the nation to fall to the Democrats. The current Congressman, Rick Renzi, will go on trial for corruption and stupidity in October. The Republicans have failed to recruit a good candidate — leaving them with a wacko who is even too far right to fit in at a wingnut convention.

Please give us your thoughts on successfully running a voter registration/voter turnout effort. Of course, every day we make McCain spend in Arizona is a day he is not spending in Virginia.  

2 Comments

  1. I’ve always advocated using our culture and tribal structure to register ndn voters. To comply with some laws you may have to have a non-partisan drive (at least if you get funding from non-partisan 501c3 groups) but that shouldn’t matter our people will vote democrat anyway. By culture I mean our people gather for dances and other cultural events that can be used by someone like you from the same culture. If you’re participating your desire for the people to register will be accepted better. Our dances and ceremonials and even our basketball tournaments are places we gather in large numbers. Up here on rosebud rez powwows (wacipi) are held in various places all year long. In these they give out small amounts of prize money to attract dancers and singers, if your group adds a few dollars if the winners have a voter registration card they’ll all be sure to register. Donating food and volunteering some help at ceremonials etc will give you a chance to explain what you’re doing to the people. If you have an event use veterans groups to post colors for you and honor their service. Ask the blessing of the traditional people and seek their approval for your goals.

    As for tribal structure here there are twenty districts with structured governments (Chair, Treasurer, etc) that have monthly meetings. These people know their communities and can help the process along but again you’ll need to help them too. Don’t get involved in tribal politics at all or you’ll only speak to half the population but get the Councils approval if you can, same with the Chairmans office. Even churches can be used to spread the word about the duty to vote as long as they’re not endorsing candidates.

    Good luck in what you’re doing, our people will benefit in the end.

  2. BIA Genie!

     An Indian man had spent many days crossing Montana without water. His horse dies of thirst… he’s crawling through the grass certain that he has his last breath, when all of a sudden he sees an object sticking out of the ground several yards ahead of him.

    He crawls to the object, pulls it out of the dirt, and
    discovers what looks to be an old brief case. He opens it
    and out pops an Indian genie! But this is no ordinary
    genie! He is wearing a Bureau of Indian Affair’s badge
    and dull gray suit. There’s a calculator in his pocket
    and has a pencil tucked behind one ear.

    “Well, lad,” says the BIA genie, “you know
    how it works. You have three wishes.”

    “I’m not falling for this,” says the Indian
    man, “I’m not going to trust a BIA employee!”

    “What do you have to lose? You’ve got no
    transportation and it looks like you’re a goner
    anyway.”

    The man thinks about this for a minute and decides that
    the genie is right. “Okay, I wish I were on a lush
    reservation with plenty of food and drinks.”

    POOF! The man finds himself in the most beautiful rez he
    has ever seen. He was surrounded by jugs of Rum and platters of delicacies.

    “And what is your second wish?”

    “My second wish is that I be rich beyond my
    Chief’s wildest dreams.”

    POOF! The man finds himself surrounded by treasure chests filled with rare gold coins and precious gems.

    “Now you have just one more wish. Better make sure
    it’s a gooder one!”

    “I wish that no matter where I go, beautiful Indian
    women will want and need me.”

    POOF! He is turned into a tampon!

    Moral of the Story: If the BIA offers you anything, there
    is going to be a string attached!

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