Next on Native Bidaské: Barriers for Native Voters Ahead of 2026 Election

Native voters already face significant barriers throughout the voting process, and new data shows those challenges remain widespread across Indian Country.

On Friday, August 28, at noon ET, Native Bidaské host Levi Rickert will examine the state of voting access for Native Americans with Jacqueline De León of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) and Dr. Megan Gall, Principal of Blockwell Consulting.

The conversation comes as questions surrounding mail-in voting and federal election policy have created additional uncertainty ahead of the 2026 election.

In a new report released by NARF, Obstacles Persist, Gall and her colleagues analyze election administration data to document barriers Native voters encounter throughout the voting process.

Rather than focusing on a single point in the process, the report examines the full journey of a voter, from registration and requesting a ballot to casting that ballot and having it counted.

The findings reveal significant disparities.

Among the data discussed during Native Bidaské, mail-ballot rejections increased 224% between 2020 and 2024. Gall pointed to addressing challenges, postal service issues and a lack of voting opportunities in and near reservations as factors that can make voting more difficult for Native voters.

The report also found a stark disparity in voter-roll maintenance. In Indian Country, 87% of notices sent by mail to confirm voter registration were reported as undeliverable, compared with 11% nationally. Gall said the finding illustrates how barriers can compound at different stages of the voting process.

Access to physical voting locations is another challenge. Gall noted that researchers identified more than 800 fewer voting opportunities in Indian Country than in surrounding areas, including polling places, satellite offices and drop boxes.

Those disparities make mail-in voting particularly important for many Native voters.

Join Levi Rickert, Jacqueline De León and Dr. Megan Gall for a timely conversation about Native voting rights, mail-in ballots, election administration and what Native voters can do to make sure their voices are heard.

Watch Native Bidaské Friday, August 28, at 12 PM ET on Facebook, YouTube, NativeNewsOnline.net, and TikTok.

Watch past episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@NativeNewsOnline/streams