By Parker Shea | Arizona Mirror
Obstacles to voting in Indian Country were the dominant point of discussion Tuesday at a subcommittee hearing, which ended with a heated exchange between a Republican state lawmaker and several Democratic members of Congress.
The House Administration Subcommittee on Elections heard testimony from tribal leaders, researchers, activists and a state representative about the obstacles to voting faced by American Indians, rural voters, nonwhite voters and felons. The hearing was held at Phoenix College.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis explained the unique challenges their rural constituents face in accessing their right to vote. One issue that is common between both communities, Lewis and Nez said, is poor mailing infrastructure.
“There may be as many as five families sharing a P.O. box,” Nez said of the Navajo reservation. “There’s not enough boxes to accommodate everyone.”
