Native people in South Dakota do not have an equal opportunity to vote in this election.
The story on NPR
Tonight, I am extremely anxious. I am a Democrat who lives in a red state that she loves, but for the first time in my middle-aged adult life, my vote for President has a chance, however small, to count in the electoral college. I am used to disappointment in early November. My life experience has been fraught with the good guy not winning.
Today, I look at my pink state on the Pollster map. There is actually a poll where Obama is within 5 points.
I know my state has great people, many with whom I disagree, but love nonetheless; others of whom I share a sense of fairness and respect for the individual imbued with an immigrant heritage of esteem for social justice. I grew up a George McGovern, South Dakota, Methodist, Democrat.
There is actually a state employee gag law on the ballot in my state this year, so I worry about blogging. I will, with the hope that somebody who has the ear of the nation will look at the disparity in my state between the opportunities to vote for the people of Todd and Shannon Counties and every other county in our state.
If you Google Todd and Shannon counties, you will see that they are regularly the most disadvantaged counties in our nation, but also the homes of some of the highest per capita service to our country's military. Todd and Shannon Counties are largely the Rosebud and Pine Ridge. Because these regions claim first nation status, some in our state justify the fact that every other county in our state is afforded early voting while these two counties have not had equal opportunity for enfranchisement. These same folks otherwise deny treaty-level nation status when convenient to state interest.
We are told that this disparity in enfranchisement has not been intentional, and that these counties could have applied for funding, but there were break downs in communication.
Please help my friends and relations in Todd and Shannon County vote.
Many will have to travel 100 miles on BIA highways with pot holes that could swallow a badger. Many have family incomes under 20.000 a year. Unemployment is not recent trend.
Please send what you can to South Dakota for Obama, Matt McGovern chair, and the SD Democratic party.Tell them that you want to help get out the vote November 4th for Todd and Shannon Counties.