Guest opinion. For most of United States history, Native Americans could not vote in American elections. Most natives were denied U.S. citizenship until 1924, and it wasn’t until the 1960s that the federal government instituted full voting rights for natives. So when we talk about the importance of voting, we understand it as a hard-won right acquired by our elders and ancestors in recent history.
That’s why voting is more than just a right; it is a responsibility that all Cherokees must embrace, whether you live on the Cherokee Nation reservation, in Oklahoma, or in other parts of the country.
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Voting is one of the most powerful ways tribal citizens can make their voices heard, whether in tribal, local, state or federal elections. It’s not just about who wins the election. When federal and state leaders know that tribal citizens are an active constituency, our voices are more likely to be heard, even after election years. Voting helps ensure that unique tribal issues remain front and center during important political conversations.
The frustrations we feel about issues – whether a lack of attention to hungry children, broken treaties, mishandling of federal Indian policies, or decisions to underfund public education or India’s healthcare system – will never will be addressed unless we actively participate in the elections. process.
Change requires many different efforts and strategies, but it starts with voting. With the Indigenous voice, we can hold leaders accountable for the issues impacting the Cherokee Nation and Indian Country.
Cherokee Vote, our voter registration initiative, has been critical in connecting Cherokees to their voting power. Since launching in 2013, Cherokee Vote has registered nearly 80,000 people for elections at all levels, with more than 2,000 new registrations last year alone.
This effort extends across the Cherokee Nation reservation, as well as through consistent visibility with our citizens across the country, including Cherokees in key swing states like Arizona and Georgia. Cherokees live in every state and congressional district across the country.
The Cherokee Vote team is active in many community events, as well as cultural celebrations such as Indigenous Peoples Day. We have partnered with the National Congress of American Indians, Rock the Native Vote, and the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma to expand our education efforts to residents of many tribes.
Cherokee Vote’s efforts have always been nonpartisan, because Cherokee issues are nonpartisan. We have worked closely and successfully with both Republican and Democratic officials. Most important is electing leaders who honor sovereignty, respect tribal governments, and prioritize Indian Country.
So let’s organize, let’s vote and ensure that our voice remains a powerful force in this country. In Oklahoma, you can make a plan to vote early on October 30, November 1, or November 2 at your county elections board, or you can vote on November 5 at your local polling place. Visit the OK Voter Portal to find your polling place and see what’s on your ballot.
Every vote cast by a Cherokee citizen contributes to the future of our tribe. Together we can shape the policies and leaders that will impact us for generations.
Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal leader of the Cherokee Nation.
