Native Americans have a long history of political disenfranchisement. Today, restrictive voting practices exclude tribal voters from the electorate and discriminatory citizenship policies limit Native American representation in politics. Innovative solutions are needed to increase access to voting and protect Native political participation.
The Native American Rights Fund and the Brennan Center for Justice are working together to uncover both the challenges to equitable political engagement and the opportunities to cultivate it. At the one-day Democracy Reform Summit, we will join Arizona State University’s Indian Legal Clinic to host policymakers, experts in civic engagement, legal advocates, and leading researchers to discuss strategies for expanding Native American political representation.
Join us on Friday, October 3, at Arizona State University’s Beus Center for Law and Society for a discussion about how to counter antidemocratic reforms and reenvision a democracy that amplifies Native voices.
Produced in partnership with the Native American Rights Fund and the Indian Legal Clinic at ASU Law
Venue:
Beus Center for Law and Society
Arizona State University
111 E Taylor St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Agenda for Friday, October 3, 2025
| Time | Event | Speakers & Info |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Breakfast and Check-In | |
| 9:00 AM – 9:10 AM | Welcome and Keynote Introduction | Matthew Campbell, Deputy Director, Native American Rights Fund Chelsea Jones, Research Fellow, Brennan Center for Justice |
| 9:10 AM – 10:00 AM | Keynote Address | David Wilkins, E. Claiborne Roberts Distinguished Professor, University of Richmond |
| 10:00 AM -11:10 AM | Roundtable: State of Play of Native Voting Rights at the Federal Level | Exploring threats to the Voting Rights Act and prospects for strengthening it, the need to pass the Native American Voting Rights Act, and the efforts to build a grassroots movement in support of federal Native voting rights legislation. Speakers: Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, Charles M. Brewer Professor of Trial Advocacy Arizona State University (facilitator) Eileen O’Connor, Senior Counsel, Brennan Center for Justice Jacqueline De León, Senior Staff Attorney, Native American Rights Fund Judith LeBlanc, Executive Director, Native Organizers Alliance |
| 11:10 – 12:20 PM | Ethical Data Analysis on Tribal Voting and Voters | Discussing how data can help advance Native voting rights, how gaps in research have limited the public understanding of Native political participation, and how researchers can work to address those gaps while protecting tribal sovereignty. Speakers: Megan Gall, Principal, Blockwell Consulting (facilitator) Dan McCool, Professor Emeritus, University of Utah Melissa Rogers, Professor, Claremont Graduate University Gary Bohnee, Director of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community |
| 12:20 – 1:35 PM | Lunch Break | |
| 1:35 – 3:20 PM | Facing Current Threats and Expanding Rights in the States | Discussing ongoing policy threats to the Native vote, how civic engagement leaders navigate those threats, and how state and local policy and practice can increase access to voting for Native communities. Speakers: Allison Neswood, Senior Staff Attorney, Native American Rights Fund (facilitator) Nicole Donaghy, Executive Director, North Dakota Native Vote Zara Stevens, Director, Native Vote Washington Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, Pima County Recorder |
| 3:20 – 4:10 PM | Group Civic Engagement Strategizing and Sharing Out | An opportunity to engage with summit attendees, share ideas, and reenvision the future of democracy and Native political participation. |
| 4:10 – 4:15 PM | Closing Remarks |
