In honor of Voter Education Week (October 6-10, 2025), the Native American Rights Fund is holding a Native Vote Week to focus attention on Native voting rights and to uplift Native power at the polls. Native Vote Week calls attention to the strength of the Native vote, the obstacles placed in our way, and the ongoing fight to protect our sovereignty and our future.
Every day, October 6 – 10, NARF will highlight a different Native voter resource or awareness tool!
October 6 – What Barriers do Native Voters Face?
We’re kicking off Native Vote Week by shining a light on the barriers that continue to block Native communities from the ballot box. We will walk through some of the top barriers identified in our report Obstacles at Every Turn—from unequal access to polling places and restrictive voter ID laws, to language barriers and voter purges.
October 7 – The Fight for Native Voting Rights and the Voting Rights Act Happening Right Now
The right to vote is under constant attack in Indian Country. Today we will look at some of the cases making their way through the courts right now. From the undermining of the Voting Rights Act in TMC v. Howe, which currently is heading to the Supreme Court, to recurring voter registration battles in Montana, to ongoing language access cases in Alaska, Native communities are on the frontlines of the fight for equal access to the ballot box.
Here are some of the high impact cases threatening Native voting rights right now:
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Michael Howe
On September 2, 2025, the Spirit Lake Nation, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and several individual Native voters formally asked the United States Supreme Court to review their case in its upcoming term. The U.S. District Court already found that North Dakota’s voting maps diluted Native votes. Instead of fixing the maps, the states returned to court to argued that the plaintiffs didn’t have the right to sue to protect themselves against discrimination.
“It is important to remember that this is not just about maps and lines. It is about whether people in my community have an equal opportunity to elect our candidates of choice.” – Representative Collette Brown (Spirit Lake Tribe), District 9, North Dakota House of Representatives.
Northern Cheyenne Tribe v. Montana
For the third time in six years, Western Native Voice and Tribal Nations in Montana have been forced to go to the courts to fight the Montana Legislature’s continued insistence on making it more difficult for Native Americans in Montana to vote.
“Each time we’ve stood up in court for our right to vote, we do so not for ourselves, but for the generations who came before us and those who will come after. Our ancestors fought for recognition, sovereignty, and dignity. It’s racism to try and enact the same laws over again. We will not let the state drag us backwards or silence our people. Not now. Not ever.” – Fort Belknap President Jeffrey Stiffarm.
Toyukak v. Dahlstrom
Alaska Native voters and Alaska Tribes successfully sued the State of Alaska, forcing it to comply with the language assistance provisions of the Voting Rights Act and the voting guarantees of the 14th and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Because the State of Alaska has never fully complied with the federal court order, NARF continues to monitor the state’s language assistance program and the court continues to have jurisdiction over the case.
“Sometimes I wonder if my votes count. Poll workers speak to me in English, but I don’t understand. I didn’t understand any of the ballots but I still voted. We go to vote and vote, but we don’t know what to do and how to vote.” – Lead plaintiff Mike Toyukak (Manokotak Village)
October 8 – Welcome to Your One-Stop Native Voting Resource
Finding accurate, Native-focused voting information can be difficult, but we’ve made it easier! Today we highlight the tools and resources available at vote.narf.org/advocacy-actions. From voter registration and ballot access information to advocacy tools that help protect the Native vote, everything you need is in one place.
In addition to our 2024 Native voter guides and voter registration resources, the page includes resources for Tribal Nations and advocates like Native language speakers guides, Tribal leader guides to requesting voter services, a Tribal guide for addressing.
October 9 – Shining a Spotlight on Native Voices
In Alaska, Native communities continue to face unique barriers to the ballot box—from lack of Native language access to systemic obstacles that make registering and voting more difficult. Our new video highlights these ongoing struggles and the resilience of Alaska Native voters who continue to stand up for their voices and their rights. Watch and share the video to help amplify Alaska Native voices at vote.narf.org
October 10 – Now is the Time to Take Action!
At our recent Democracy Summit, Tribal leaders and advocates came together to strategize and mobilize for change. Protecting the Native vote means building power for our communities and defending our sovereignty and Indian Country is leading efforts to safeguard the Native vote. But it starts with each of us!
1. check your registration,
2. register if you haven’t yet,
and make a plan to vote!
Find more voter resources at https://vote.narf.org/advocacy-actions/.
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