MVSKOKE RESERVATION – Voting is already underway as Mvskoke, Natives and Oklahoma voters make their voices heard in the 2024 general election. Early voting sites opened their doors to long lines across the state on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Some elected to cast an absentee ballot either by mail or hand deliver it to their local county election board. This year’s election in Oklahoma will see open positions for President of the United States, five U.S. House seats, the State Corporation Commissioner, 25 state senate seats, 67 state district representative seats and two state ballot questions.
This year marks the centennial year that Native Americans have had the right to vote in the United States. The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, also known as the Snyder Act, was passed by Congress and granted U.S. citizenship to Native Americans. Despite the new law, many states still prevented Native Americans from participating in elections, similar to African Americans during the time. Both minority groups have not always had the privilege of making their voice heard in government, making voting and registration crucial during election years.
The United Indian Nations of Oklahoma (UINO) have made it their mission to register as many Native Americans as possible to become eligible to vote in upcoming elections. This is done through the “Warrior Up to Vote” tour, a bi-annual initiative to increase voter registration among Native Americans within the state. The tour’s highlight stop was at the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa for the Tribal Sovereignty 101 and Candidates forum on Sept. 30. That event featured local tribal leaders and Indigenous celebrities from the show, “Reservation Dogs”.
According to the UINO, Native Americans represent 13% of Oklahoma’s population but have been historically underrepresented. Participation in the democratic process is important because it affects issues like tribal sovereignty. National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. explained that the goal of registering Native Americans is not to create a fixed outcome.
“As we mobilize efforts to encourage Indian Country to vote, we do so in a non-partisan manner. We do, however, advocate for a Tribal Sovereignty ticket,” Wright said in a press release. “Regardless of political party affiliation, we encourage Indian Country to vote for candidates that will support and defend priorities important to Indian Country. In doing so, this will extend to upholding the trust and treaty obligations this country has to all of Indian Country.”
Who’s on the Ballot?
According to a study done by the University of Florida, Oklahoma ranked 50th in voter turnout in the 2020 general election. Oklahoma has elected Republican presidential nominees by a clear majority in the last five general elections. Currently Republicans have a supermajority in both the state senate and house.
Oklahomans will have five choices to choose from for president of the United States on their ballot. This year’s candidates include Libertarian Chase Oliver, Independent Chris Garrity, Republican Donald Trump, Democrat Kamala Harris and Independent Robert Kennedy Jr.. Kennedy suspended his campaign on Aug. 23, however his name will still appear as an option on Oklahoma’s ballot.
All five U.S. House districts are up for election. District 1 will see three candidates on the ballot: Democrat Dennis Baker, Republican Kevin Hern and Independent Mark David Garcia Sanders. Baker is a Mvskoke citizen. District 2 will see three candidates on the ballot: Democrat Brandon Wade, Republican Josh Brecheen and Independent Ronnie Hopkins. Republican Frank Lucas will run unopposed in District 3. District 4 will see three candidates on the ballot: Independent James Stacey, Republican Tom Cole and Democrat Mary Brannon. Cole is a Chickaw citizen. District 5 will see two candidates on the ballot: Democrat Madison Horn and Republican Stephanie Bice.
The State Corporation Commissioner will appear on this year’s ballot and will see three candidates running for the office. The position operates in an independent department of the state government and regulates business and economic interests including insurance, public utilities and retail franchising. Running for the position this year are Republican Brian Bingman, Libertarian Chad Williams and Democrat Harold D. Spradling.
State Question 833 will appear on this year’s ballot and will approve or reject a proposed amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution adding Section 9E to Article 10. If adopted, it would allow for the creation of public infrastructure districts.
The other measure, State Question 834, will also appear on this year’s ballot and will amend Section 1 Article III of the Oklahoma Constitution. If adopted, this would clarify that only citizens of the United States are qualified to vote in the State of Oklahoma. It is currently a felony for a noncitizen to vote in Oklahoma.
The general election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls will close at 8 p.m. (CT). To see the full list of federal and state positions up for election this year, visit ballotpedia.org and type in “Oklahoma Elections” in the search bar. There, voters can look by county to see all municipal, county, state and federal positions that will appear on their ballot.
