Standing Rock leaders mobilizing to get IDs in order for Election Day

With North Dakota's voter ID law in place for the election, Standing Rock Sioux leaders say they're in crisis mode trying to get tribal members what they need for November 6.

Tribe Chairman Mike Faith says the Supreme Court Decision on Voter ID laws feels like voter suppression. Faith says P.O. boxes are common because of the size of the reservation. He says the race is on to make sure none of the county's more than 2,700 eligible voters are denied at the polls.

Standing Rock tribal leaders are in a race against the clock to make sure their voters have the right addresses on their IDs.

"We are best at crisis and so we're in crisis mode from here until election day and we're going to move them and shake them,” said Phyllis Young, a Standing Rock resident.

Residents can find their physical address by calling the county 911 administrator, but it's a little more complex in Sioux county.

"That's a nightmare right now because the only one in Sioux County is the sheriff and of course him being sheriff, there's times that pulls him away from his desk a lot,” said Tribal Chairman Mike Faith.

With three weeks to election day tribal leaders have scheduled a forum to help people find their addresses, and get them new tribal IDs. Chairman Mike Faith thinks this won't suppress the vote.

"I think it's going to be a positive because it's upsetting people to the point of wanting to go to the polls,” said Faith.

“People who've never had IDs will have IDs for the first time and so that's a real plus,” said Young.

In the last 4 presidential elections, voter turnout in Sioux county has ranged from 1,100 to 1,300.

If you are a tribal member with question, there is a meeting in Sioux County about the voter IDs. For more information, call 701-854-8500.

The Secretary of State website has a link for ID questions here: https://vip.sos.nd.gov/civics101.aspx?ptlhPKID=126&ptlPKID=7