Indian taco feed encourages voter participation
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ARLEE – In Lake County, where many live far from their polling places, community organizers are encouraging people to return absentee ballots by making it a bit easier.
The Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes’ Get Out the Vote campaign partnered with Montana Native Vote to hold voter participation Indian taco feeds across the Flathead Reservation. The feeds are open to the public and are part of an effort to increase voter participation on the reservation.
In Arlee, about 30 people attended the event. There were four Indian taco feeds in the south end of Lake County last week. People of all ages enjoyed tacos and some dropped off their ballots.
Montana Native Vote community organizer Patrick Yawakie said the idea for the Indian taco feed came from a local political campaign. A candidate held fry-bread feeds around the community. She encouraged attendees to turn in their absentee ballots at the events. According to Yawakie, the result was above-average absentee ballot return. Yawakie hopes that the same tactic will encourage more participation in this year’s midterm election.
“We are working toward making voting a tradition and a community event while also involving families and youth,” he said. “We want it to be a tradition that carries on through generations.”
Yawakie said people should vote because the outcomes of elections will have significant impacts on their lives. According to Yawakie, when citizens vote they ensure that elected officials truly represent them.
“We should be able to elect representatives who look like us, who think like us, and who advocate for us,” Yawakie said.
A variety of voter support services are available at the feeds. Attendees can turn in their absentee ballots, sign up to receive an absentee ballot, and get information about candidates and ballot issues. Voters can also arrange to be driven to the polls on Election Day, Nov. 6.
According to the Montana Secretary of State’s Office, 10,058 Lake County residents voted in the 2014 midterm election. According to the US Census Bureau, the population of Lake County is 30,273. Less than one-third of the county’s residents decided the outcome of the last midterm election.
According to Yawakie, access is the biggest barrier to voting on the Flathead Reservation. In the rural county, many people live far from their polling places. Bad weather, lack of access to reliable transportation, and scheduling conflicts can prevent people from voting. For many, mailing an absentee ballot or dropping it off at an event like the Indian taco feeds is the only viable way to vote.
The next taco feeds will be held Nov. 1 at the Ronan Senior Center; on Nov. 2 at the Salish Kootenai College; Nov. 3 at the Polson Senior Center; and Nov. 4 in Elmo. Those who attend should bring their absentee ballots.
DHRD Transit will provide rides for tribal members. Those interested should call 406-275-2792. Montana Native Vote will transport any residents of the county to the polls. To arrange a ride with Montana Native Vote, call 612-964-9795. Voters can call 406-218-1160 to get a ride to the polls from CSKT Get Out the Vote.
People with absentee ballots can mail them or drop them off at the Lake County Elections office in Polson. Further information on Lake County elections can be found at lakemt.gov/ election/election.html.
