What rights do Native Americans have to vote?
In Oklahoma, Native Americans have the same rights to vote as any other citizens of the United States. The only additional requirement is that they must be enrolled in a federally recognized tribe in order to participate in local, state, and national elections. Native Americans are required to provide documentation of their tribal enrollment at the time of registration, including a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood, an enrollment card, or a tribal census number. The Native American Voting Rights Act of 1965 provides legal protection for Native Americans to be able to participate in elections without facing discrimination. This includes protecting citizens against any attempt to prevent them from registering to vote, intimidating them at the polls, or otherwise making it difficult or impossible for them to cast their ballot. Native Americans are also provided with resources to help them understand the election process, such as in-person voting assistance, language assistance, and language translations if needed. Native American citizens have the right to vote in elections, however, they may not vote in tribal elections until they obtain the proper qualifications and are registered with their tribe. In Oklahoma, tribal registration is handled by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety’s Identification Unit, and each tribe handles its own registration requirements. In order to ensure Native American citizens are protected and able to vote with ease, the federal government continues to pass legislation to protect voting rights and ensure fair and accessible elections for all.
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