Nevada, a battleground state, is competitive enough that either former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris could win by less than 3%. That means Nevada’s tribal population could potentially decide the state’s electoral vote. Tribes are encouraging members to get out and vote.
Nevada has 91,165 Native American voters, making up 3.8% of the state’s voter population. The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony (RSIC) has about 870 eligible tribal member voters, not including non-members who are residents.
In the 2020 presidential election, Native Americans played a crucial role in Nevada. Voter turnout on tribal lands surged from the 2016 election and had a significant impact, helping Biden win Nevada by 2.39%. Leaders behind the Native Vote mobilization efforts in 2020 said it was the “largest Native voter turnout in Nevada’s history.”
“Native Americans in Nevada need to Get Out The Vote in the 2024 presidential election. Nevada Native Americans hold the political power to determine whether the electoral votes go to Trump or Harris, as long as every tribal member votes,” said Daryl Gardipe, RSIC Chairman. “Tribes are voting on the protection of tribal sovereignty and upholding the United States’ trust responsibilities to us. That’s why I’m urging you to cast your votes on Election Day, in person or via the EASE Program, if you haven’t done so yet.”
A primary issue in the 2024 election is to protect tribal sovereignty and hold the United States accountable for its trust responsibility to tribal nations. Tribes insist on inclusion and tribal consultation on all matters; preservation of lands, language and culture; protection of sacred sites; solutions to MMIP and law enforcement needs; advanced healthcare; funding for housing and infrastructure; educational advancement and truthful tribal history in schools. They also seek recognition that public lands are Native lands while addressing climate change using ancient tribal ecological knowledge and promoting responsible consumerism.
By using our voices and exercising our right to vote, we are building our future together. The ultimate goal in this election is to increase civic engagement by tribal members, both on and off reservations.
Nevada tribes were allowed to establish their own polling locations after the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and Walker River Paiute Tribe filed a lawsuit against Nevada, Washoe County and Mineral County in 2016 for failing to provide adequate early voting and Election Day polling locations on their reservations.
Since then, over 15 Nevada tribes, including RSIC, have opted to have local tribal polling locations for their communities while building relationships with county partners. Both tribal members and non-Natives vote at these locations.
With the advocacy of Nevada tribes and Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar, the 2023 legislative session passed a state law allowing tribal members living on reservations to use the online voting system called the Tribal EASE Program. This will help alleviate geographic isolation, transportation issues and lack of access to distant polling locations, increasing Native voter turnout, tribal leaders said. To learn more about the online voting system, visit www.NVEASE.gov.
RSIC’s election day polling locations
- Reno Gym (34 Reservation Road, Reno, NV 89502), 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Same-day registration & Tribal I.D. accepted as well as in-person voting
- Hungry Valley Gym (9075 Eagle Canyon Drive, Sparks, NV 89441, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Same-day registration & Tribal I.D. accepted as well as in-person voting.
Source: RSIC
