San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona – Chairman Terry Rambler of the San Carlos Apache Tribe is encouraging Tribal members aged 18 and older to register to vote by October 7 to participate in the upcoming presidential election on November 5, even if they do not possess documents to prove U.S. citizenship.
Chairman Rambler highlighted a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that mandates Arizona residents to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote with a state voter registration form. However, he noted that U.S. citizens can still register using a federal voter registration form without proof of citizenship.
Using the federal form will designate a voter as a “federal-only” voter, limiting their eligibility to vote on federal offices only. As of July 1, the Arizona Secretary of State’s office reported that there were 42,301 voters registered only for federal elections, with Gila County having 58 and Graham County 47 federal-only registrants.
On August 22, a divided Supreme Court upheld a request from the Republican National Committee and Arizona’s Republican legislative leaders to reinforce a state law requiring proof of citizenship for statewide registration. Any state registration form submitted without such proof will be rejected by the County Recorder.
“It is essential for all tribal members who have registered in the past to check their registration status,” Chairman Rambler urged. “If you are not registered to vote, please do so right away, well ahead of the October 7 deadline.”
Tribal members with a valid Arizona driver’s license or state I.D. can register online at www.ServiceArizona.com. Any Arizona driver’s license or state I.D. issued after October 1, 1996, serves as valid Documentary Proof of Citizenship (DPOC).
Registered voters may request a ballot by mail either by signing up for the Active Early Voting List or making a one-time request. Tribal members without a driver’s license or state I.D., but who possess DPOC, can register using the state’s paper form. Acceptable forms of DPOC include:
– A legible copy of a birth certificate. Members lacking a birth certificate may contact the Medical Records Department of the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation for assistance in obtaining one.
– A legible copy of a U.S. passport or passport card.
– Tribal Enrollment Number.
– Indian Census Number.
– Bureau of Indian Affairs Card Number.
– Tribal Treaty Card Number.
– Tribal Certificate of Indian Blood.
– Tribal/Bureau of Indian Affairs affidavit of birth.
For U.S. citizens who do not have a valid driver’s license or state I.D. and lack DPOC, registration should be completed using the federal form, which must be mailed or delivered to the appropriate County Recorder. The County Recorder is required to inform registrants who applied with the federal form without DPOC within 10 business days that they do not meet the proof of citizenship requirement to vote in state and local elections. To convert to a full ballot status, registrants must provide DPOC by 5:00 p.m. on October 31. If valid DPOC is not submitted, they will remain federal-only voters.
Gila County residents can mail or deliver their registration forms to the Gila County Recorder, while Graham County residents can do so at their respective Recorder’s location. All mailed registration forms must be postmarked by October 7 and received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, or they must be delivered by October 12.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe Council has officially endorsed the Democratic Party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.