FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 27, 2024

CONTACT: Cecilia Heston

Public Information Officer

SOSPIO@sos.nv.gov

Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar highlights milestones in voting for Nevada tribal citizens; honors Native American Heritage Month

CARSON CITY, NV – During Native American Heritage Month, Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar highlights milestones achieved for the Nevada Native American population during the 2024 election cycle. The expansion of Nevada’s digital voting platform, the Effective Absentee System for Elections (EASE), and the establishment of multiple new tribal polling locations have increased access for tribal voters.

“We’re proud to honor Native American heritage by engaging directly with Nevada’s tribal leaders and citizens and promoting efforts to further expand access to the ballot box,” said Secretary Aguilar. ”It is our duty as elected officials to provide opportunities and support to all communities that call Nevada home. I’m thrilled that 2024 has been a transformative year, full of positive changes that uplifted Indigenous voices in the state.”

Native American Heritage Day is celebrated nationwide on Friday, November 29^th, 2024.

Key Milestones

1. 20 Tribal Polling Locations including the Establishment of 3 New Locations: Across the state this 2024 General Election, there were a total of 20 tribal polling locations, including the establishment of three new locations. Voters could choose from 18 Election Day locations or 12 Early Vote locations all on tribal land.

    

   Senate Bill 327, passed in the 2023 legislative session, required automatic reservation-based polling locations. Through planning sessions with county clerks, the 2024 General Election saw the establishment of 3 new tribal polling locations at the Battle Mountain Band council, Lovelock Paiute tribe, and Stewart Community council.

    

   Significance of the Stewart Colony Polling Location:

    

   The location at Stewart colony was particularly historic as this is where the Stewart Indian School was placed. Boarding schools are a dark part of American history and have caused irreparable harm to Indigenous communities with trauma still being felt to this day. The creation of this polling location serves to signify great work being done to acknowledge harm and create new opportunities for future generations.

    

   For more information on tribal polling locations visit the Tribal Voters webpage here.

    

2. Expansion of Nevada’s digital voting and voter registration platform, the Effective Absentee System for Elections (EASE): Through Senate Bill 216 in the 2023 Legislative Session, EASE was expanded to include tribal voters that live on a reservation or colony in Nevada. Measures such as this are aimed at removing barriers to voting for Indigenous people. Particularly within Native communities, barriers are often: internet access, reliable mail services, and long distances to services. While EASE was available to tribal voters for the 2024 PPP and Primary, tribal voters began using this option for the first time during the 2024 General Election.

    

   A total of 61 tribal citizens across 11 different Nevada tribes used the system for online voting. The EASE system is available for tribal voters who live on a colony or reservation in Nevada. The system is also available for Nevada’s active-duty military, their families, overseas citizens and voters with a disability. Learn more about EASE here.

    

3. Tribal Polling Locations Interactive Map: The Secretary of State’s Office created a new Geographic Information System (GIS) Map to assist tribal voters in navigating the election process. The interactive map highlights Early Vote and Election Day tribal polling locations and ballot dropboxes. The map also includes a weather overlay that can be toggled on. This is all in an effort to provide easy-to-access resources for Nevada tribal citizens primarily in rural parts of the state that may have to plan in advance how to get to the polls.

Visit the interactive map here.

Tribal Turnout Data:

Initial reporting shows 43,197 voters who live in precincts that include tribal lands voted in the 2024 General, approximately a 36% increase from 2022. This is roughly double the 18% statewide increase in turnout over the same period of time.

Find a breakdown of tribal voting precincts and polling locations in this interactive map here.

Turnout # for ALL Tribal Polling Locations: 6,173

Turnout # for the 3 New* Tribal Polling Locations: 491

*Battle Mountain Band Council, Lovelock Paiute Tribe, Stewart Community Council

Tribal Polling Locations Early Vote Total: 2,142

Tribal Polling Locations Election Day Total: 3,758

Tribal Polling Locations Dropbox Total: 212

EASE Tribal Turnout Total: 61

Learn more on our Tribal Voting webpage. If you are interested in supporting tribal voters, contact your county Clerk’s office or the Secretary of State’s Office today! County clerk information can be found here and the Secretary of State’s Office can be reached at nvelect@sos.nv.gov.

For more information on Nevada’s tribes/bands/colonies listed below, please visit the Department of Native American Affairs Tribal Directory.

28 Federally recognized tribes/bands/colonies reside within Nevada:

Battle Mountain Band Council, Carson Colony Community Council, Confederated Tribes of Goshute, Dresslerville Community Council, Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute Tribe, Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Elko Band Council, Ely Shoshone Tribe, Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, Ft. McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Lovelock Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, South Fork Band Council, Stewart Community Council, Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone, Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, Walker River Paiute Tribe, Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California, Wells Band Council, Winnemucca Indian Colony, Woodfords Community Council, Yerington Paiute Tribe, Yomba Shoshone Tribe

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