The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) will host a voter registration drive from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10 at Hamley Slickfork Saloon, 8 S.E. Court Ave.
The non-partisan event is open to the public to help register those eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 general election. It will also allow registered voters to check or update their voter status. In Oregon, the last day to register for the Nov. 5 election is Oct. 15.
To register to vote in Oregon, you must be a U.S. citizen, resident of Oregon and at least 16 years old. If you are not 18 years old, you will not receive a ballot until an election occurs on or after your 18th birthday.
“We hope to see a lot of people registering for the first time along with those who may need to update their registrations,” said CTUIR Communications Director Kaeleen McGuire. “This event is open to everyone, not just tribal members. Come join us for food, music, giveaways, voter information and hopefully adding new voters to the rolls.”
Those who plan to register at the event will need to bring an Oregon driver license, permit or ID card issued by the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division (DMV). If you do not have an Oregon driver license, permit or ID card, you can still use the online voter registration application. The information you enter will display on a voter registration card (PDF document) that you will need to print, sign and deliver to your county elections office to complete your registration.
Scheduled to speak about the voting process and the importance of voting are Oregon Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers, Umatilla County Elections Department Records Supervisor Stephen Craigen, Umatilla County Democrats Chair Patrick Cahill, Umatilla County Republicans Chair Suni Danforth and CTUIR Tribal Court Director Matthew Johnson.
The event will also feature music by the James Dean Kindle Trio, hip hop group Young Successful Natives (Alyric Redcrane and Cole Foye Soaring Eagle) as well as a hand drum song by CTUIR Umatilla Master Speaker Fred Hill.
This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act. Passed June 2, 1924, Congress granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States. However, Congress deferred to state governments on who was eligible to vote, and many states continued to bar Native Americans from voting.
“Our vote is our voice. A voice we did not have until a hundred years ago,” CTUIR Board of Trustees Member at Large Corinne Sams said. “Many of our relatives fought for this country in the first World War but still did not have the right to vote. I believe every election is important, however this 2024 presidential election is the most critical election of our lifetime in my opinion. We are facing so many unprecedented challenges in on our homelands and our nation. We must ensure our tribal members have an opportunity to register and cast their vote this November.”
