Tribal officials will create street addresses at the polls - to thwart GOP voter suppression

[Demovictory9]

Native American voting rights activists in North Dakota have launched an audacious plan aimed at pushing back against a Supreme Court ruling that threatens the reelection of Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) — and that could decide the fate of the Senate in the process.

The high court decided 6 to 2 Tuesday to leave in place a state law that requires residents to provide an ID displaying a residential address rather than a P.O. box number to vote. Republican lawmakers who pushed for the measure say the rule is designed to combat voter fraud.

But tribal officials and Democrats say it appears aimed at making it harder for thousands of Native Americans to vote, particularly those who live on reservations without conventional street names. The law specifically bans the use of P.O. boxes as an alternative form of address, rendering many tribal ID cards invalid.


Native American activists have responded with plans to create addresses on the spot for those who need them on Election Day.

Tribal officials will stand outside polling stations on Nov. 6 with laptops and access to rural addressing software and a shared database of voter names. North Dakota is the only state that does not require voter registration, meaning eligible voters can generally show up at the polls and cast a ballot so long as they have proper identification.

O.J. Semans, chief executive of Four Directions, a national Native American voting rights group, said the strategy was “legally watertight” and necessary to counter the “devastating” court ruling.

“Even if it doesn’t change the overall result, it’s about fighting back,” Semans said. “We have to fight back.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-senate-battleground-native-american-voting-rights-activists-fight-back-against-voter-id-restrictions/2018/10/12/7bc33ad2-cd60-11e8-a360-85875bac0b1f_story.html?utm_term=.423144552822

[pnwmom]

1. Great! I had thought they could just make street names then, but was afraid

they wouldn't be able to do it quickly enough.

Bravo to them.

[Demovictory9]

3. Well... we KNOW the GOP is thinking quickly to thwart this. They are masters at voter suppression

[trc]

25. I thought so too

Until I read that there is no voter registration in North Dakota. Laptops and quick thinking will save the day...as long as the folks voting get there early and get their addresses set, or get the set before election day. This is an Awesome solution.

[Demovictory9]

27. Next year laptops at polls will be outlawed or something

[lindysalsagal]

2. More republican dirty tricks. Also happening in Georgia. Good for them. RESIST!!!

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Easy way it to use their Fire Number like most Rural Areas do.

Glad to see they are ramming this thing up the Rethugs butt.

[Cha]

5. It IS about Fighting Back.. we have to try and

keep trying And Never Give Up.

DAMN the FUCKING trumputin FASCISTS.

[Wounded Bear]

6. We need more of this kind of creative thinking...

to thwart Repub dirty tricks.

[calimary]

15. Yep! We need devious thinkers.

And rather desperately, at that.

[Stallion]

7. Let Me Suggest--1876 Custer Way

[Stallion]

8. or 239 Dotard Avenue

[Onward AND Upward]

12. Oh my...

Maybe you should volunteer your copy writing services...

[B Stieg]

21. or Wounded Knee Boulevard nt

REGISTER and VOTE!

[denbot]

9. Ah Ho!

Never stop fighting!

[grantcart]

10. Love it

[Jake Stern]

11. 6-2

Which of the liberal justices voted with the majority?

[eggplant]

19. I believe Sotomayor did.

I think Kagan and RBG dissented.

[pansypoo53219]

32. city girl. needs more education.

[Ruby the Liberal]

13. Love this!!

[Farmer-Rick]

14. Are we all fascist pigs yet?

Seems we are getting there really fast.

[concreteblue]

34. Don't know.

But I sure am feeling like an Angry Mob. All by myself.....

[Liberal In Texas]

16. Good on them.

We really need a national voting rights/standardization act or a Constitutional Amendment (like the what DFW was talking about on an earlier thread.)

The repubs don't want people to vote, they have been saying this for over 30 years.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

17. hell yes!

That's taking the fight to them!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. This is great news and I couldn't be happier to hear it! Smart Tribal Officials on the job!

[unitedwethrive]

20. Good news!

[backtoblue]

22. K&R !

[GoCubsGo]

23. All they need to do is name every street "PO Box."

And, number each dwelling accordingly.

[3Hotdogs]

24. They should'a waited a couple of weeks before announcing this.

Announcing now, gives time for court challenges.

[marylandblue]

26. They need time to tell people they can vote without an address

Otherwise they might not show up.

[cp]

28. Wonderful!

Thank you, tribal officials!

[Etherealoc1]

29. Keep fighting

A massive outreach is needed along with transportation to the polls.

Heidi will have to campaign right to the very end.

[Vinnie From Indy]

30. Bring gas powered generators in case the power is cut

Always have a back up!

[beachbum bob]

31. They will have to get the word out

And be ready for anything at the polling places

[questionseverything]

33. so the address doesnt need to be on their id?