VOTING IS ONE WAY WE BUILD POWER

The right to vote has not always been a guarantee for Native peoples. US citizenship was not granted to Native people until the Indian Citizenship Act was passed in 1924, and the right to vote was not secured in all 50 states until 40 years after that. Voting, in all elections, is one way that we can mobilize for our shared future and ensure our voices are heard by policy and decision makers.

Credit: Ernesto Yerena (Yaqui/Xicano)

DEVELOPING DATA-DRIVEN & CREATIVE STRATEGIES

Our get-out-the-vote campaigns were informed by key findings from the Indigenous Futures Survey, where Native peoples shared their priorities, experiences, and common barriers to voting. These findings fueled creative campaigns that combined key messaging and information with humor, art, and digital activation. We partnered with Native-led organizations, artists, influencers, and community leaders to develop materials and execute digital and grassroots organizing that provided critical information and resources to Native voters.

Credit: Gregg Deal (Pyramid Lake Paiute)

OUR STRATEGIES

We executed integrated strategies that allowed for increased reach of the campaign and met people where they are and with the information they needed to hear. Some of the strategies we executed included:

  • Hosted town halls in 2020 and 2022 with community leaders, influencers, and organizers
  • Leaned into the power of humor and partnered with Native comedians and creatives to develop campaign assets, including partnering with Dallas Goldtooth (Bdewakantunwan Dakota and Diné) to develop radio ads featuring his Reservation Dogs character, Spirit.
  • Shared a voter registration tool that allowed people to check their voter registration status, register to vote, check their state’s voting requirement and deadlines, explore the candidates and propositions that would be on the ballot.
  • Developed campaign resources to support grassroots organizers including toolkits, messaging, posters, t-shirts, stickers, doorhangers, and more.
  • Placed strategic advertisements to ensure our message was seen and heard. This included radio, social media, website and digital, and billboard advertising.
  • Provided $180,000 in grants to Native-led organizations leading on-the-ground and community-driven efforts to get out the Native vote in 2022.

Credit: Aly McKnight (Shoshone-Bannock)

OUR PARTNERS

Throughout the Natives Vote campaigns in 2020, 2022, and 2024, we partnered with several organizations and institutions including:

RESOURCES

FROM PROTESTS, TO THE BALLOT BOX, AND BEYOND: BUILDING INDIGENOUS POWER

This report reveals insight from the Indigenous Futures Survey pertaining to voting, voting behavior, and political engagement. It combines statistical findings with quotes from Indigenous People who participated in the survey.

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THE POWER OF NATIVE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

IFS 3.0, conducted in 2023, produced findings that demonstrated the power of the Native power and critical insights to inform organizations’ approach to get out the vote efforts.

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Download State-Specific Documents

INDIGENOUS FUTURES SURVEY 2.0 KEY FINDINGS

This compilation of 1-pagers provides an overview of the key findings from IFS 2.0, conducted in 2021. The topics covered include: Indian Country’s top priorities; Native identity and well-being; media and entertainment; political engagement; trust in institutions; women in leadership.

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SHARING IMAGES FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

Use these images, created by artist Gregg Deal (Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe) to amplify your get-out-the-vote message. Download includes a zip file with images sized for Facebook, Instagram posts and reels, and X.

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NATIVE POWER ARTWORK

Download and share artwork from Ernesto Yerena Montejano on social media and encourage your friends and family to vote in the midterm elections.

Download Poster 1
Download Poster 2

INTO ACTION INDIGENOUS VOTE CONTENT

Explore and download graphics to amplify the power of the Native Vote. INTO ACTION is a movement of designers, illustrators, animators and artists building cultural momentum around civic engagement and the issues most affecting our communities, our country and the world. We create free and unbranded content you can use to improve your advocacy.

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