In 1924, the Indian Citizenship Act (ICA) was passed, which, technically, allowed American Indians and Alaska Natives to vote. However, as soon as it was passed, jurisdictions looked for ways to restrict Native voting, and one way this was done was through literacy tests. Alaska required Native applicants to read aloud and then write sections of the U.S. Constitution. It wasn’t until 1970 when Alaska Amendment 2 passed, which eliminated the requirement for voters to read or speak English in state or local elections. This ballot proposition only won by 2.26% (34,079 yes votes to 32,578 no votes). Our people fought hard for our right to vote, whether we spoke English or our own language. Let’s honor those who came before us by showing up in numbers! #GetOutTheNativeVote
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