Native voting — a step in the right direction

The following is from an excerpt from the article about New Mexico’s new Native American Voting Task Force. The article was written by State Rep. Derrick J. Lente, a Democrat from District 65, representing Sandia Pueblo writing in the Santa Fe New Mexican, a newspaper based in New Mexico. Continue reading here: Native voting — a step in the right direction.  The Native American Voting Task Force is composed of representatives from the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, the Fort Sill Apache Tribe, and more. According to Lente:

After speaking with several members of the Native American Voting Task Force at an Interim Indian Affairs Committee meeting last week, I am confident that even more Native Americans will show up to the polls to make their voices heard once this group has had the opportunity to implement some of their plans. Through their work, we will have a government that is more representative of the interests and values of Native Americans in New Mexico.

The Native American Voting Task Force is a step in the right direction to assist with correcting the wrongs that have kept Native Americans from the voting booth for so long.

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver was recently quoted saying the task force hed its first meeting recently:

Task Force members got off to a great start this morning and began laying the foundation for what they want to accomplish moving forward. With the next general election only a year away, it’s important that we work together to develop policies and procedures that will increase voter participation and education in our tribal communities. I am confident that this talented group of individuals will find new and creative ways to engage a greater number of Native Americans in the electoral process.