“Warrior Up” campaign aimed to get American Indians to the polls

TULSA, Okla. —The United Indian Nations of Oklahoma is launching its second bi-annual “Warrior Up to Vote” event, an unprecedented statewide initiative to increase voter registration among American Indians in Oklahoma.

Ben Barnes, UINO Board Chairman, said that when “We vote, we can impact taxation, our tribal compacts, and tribal sovereignty, which helps all those issues that disproportionately affect American Indians.”

“Whether you are a young person or an elder, no matter your background or education, voting is something we can all do to uplift our communities, and it requires minimal effort,” Barnes said.

American Indians represent 13% of Oklahoma’s population but have been historically underrepresented in voter registration and turnout. Warrior Up to Vote aims to change that.

The Warrior Up to Vote tour is more than a voter registration drive; it celebrates American Indian sovereignty, community strength, and the power to create change through political engagement.

The group’s efforts to register tribal citizens to vote are nonpartisan, but they will include information on candidates’ positions on tribal sovereignty and issues critical to Indian Country.

The tour is committed to showcasing Oklahoma’s Native communities statewide and nationally by visiting as many tribal communities as possible before the Oct. 11 voter registration deadline.

Registering American Indians gives Tribal Citizens a voice in policymaking.

Key Tour Dates and Events:

Sept. 23 – Miami, OK – Shawnee, Miami, Peoria, Seneca Cayuga, Eastern Shawnee, Quapaw, Wyandotte, Ottawa and Modoc Tribal Nations

Sept. 24 – Vinita and Tahlequah, OK – Cherokee Nation and UKB Tribal Nations

Sept. 25 – Bartlesville and Pawhuska- Delaware Tribe of Indians and Osage Nation Tribal Nations

As part of this campaign, voter registration materials, including posters and flyers with QR codes that link directly to the online registration resources, will be distributed to tribal nations and American Indian voters.

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