(The Center Square) – Native American voters will have access to a satellite office in Allen, South Dakota for in-person registration and absentee voting to ensure equal voting opportunities.
The Department of Justice secured the agreement with Bennett County to operate the satellite office for the state-mandated 46-day absentee voting period after an investigation found the county violated the Voting Rights Act because Native Americans living in the county did not have equal access to voting services, according to a DOJ news release.
“It is time to eliminate all barriers standing between Native American voters and the ballot box across our country,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in a statement. “An inclusive democracy must provide all of its eligible voters access to the full range of voter registration and early voting opportunities required by law. With this agreement, we will ensure that Native American voters will have the same access to registration and early voting as do other voters. The Justice Department will continue to challenge discriminatory election-related laws and policies and will vigorously enforce federal law to move us ever closer to a fully enfranchised Native electorate.”
While investigating claims that Bennett County failed to make registration and early voting equally available to Native Americans, the DOJ said it found that those living on Tribal land disproportionately lacked “affordable, regular, convenient public transportation” to travel long distances to vote in person in the county seat of Martin.
County officials finalized the agreement with the DOJ last week, sidestepping potentially lengthy and costly mitigation, the department said.
The county can apply to receive state funds from the Help America Vote Act to set up and operate the satellite office, which will be open during regular business hours, the DOJ said. The office must be staffed with at least one trained election worker, the agreement states.
Additionally, the county must consult with the Oglala Sioux Tribe when deciding on the location of its satellite office.
“The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy, but that right is hollow without access to registration and early voting opportunities,” said U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota. “We are grateful Bennett County has agreed to improve voting access for Native Americans in South Dakota by adding and staffing a satellite office in Allen.”
South Dakota mandates 46 days for absentee voting before any federal, state, or county elections.