Outreach intensifies to increase voter registration with deadline coming up

Kyle Knox

Gila River Indian News

With Election Day, Nov. 3, approaching, the Gila River Indian Community continues to register as many voters as possible before the National and GRIC tribal elections deadline.

Starting Sept. 24, GRIC Tribal Elections and Pinal County have partnered to register new voters in person while adhering to all COVID-19 safety protocols. Pinal County Elections Office provided their mobile registration vehicle for use on Thursday, Sept. 24 in District 1, Saturday, Sept. 26 in District 5, and again on Thursday, Oct. 1 in District 3.

“We’ve had a huge turnout of new voters registering along with many people coming to update their voter information during our outreach,” said District 3 Judge for Tribal Elections Office, Zuzette Kisto.

Tribal Elections also set up in District 6 on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

“In District 6 we had a lot of urban members come register to vote because they’re concerned about the constitutional amendment to Article III: Membership and how it could affect them,” Kisto said.

Nationally this next election will determine the outcome of numerous seats in congress, and the next president of the United States. On the state level, two propositions are up for a vote in addition to numerous senate and house seats. 

Here in the Community, the General Election will determine who is elected Governor, Lt. Governor, Chief Judge, and the Associate Judges. 

The Special Election will be held in conjunction with the General Election for voters to decide on three proposed GRIC Constitutional Amendments.  

“It’s great to see the team out here to register Community members to vote because it’s important and something we can’t take for granted, especially since Native people weren’t allowed that right for a long time,” said Lt. Gov. Robert Stone at the District 6 outreach.

Please keep in mind that the registration deadline to vote in the state and national elections is Monday, Oct. 5, for Maricopa and Pinal counties. You can register online at servicearizona.com and check your voter status at recorder.maricopa.gov or pinalcountyaz.gov.

The deadline to register for GRIC tribal election is Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 5 p.m. For more information to register, please call the Tribal Elections Office at (520) 562-9735. Or you can also register by calling your district judge to coordinate an in-person registration within your district.