Native voters join Harvard Kennedy School discussion on election issues and free press gaps
From local administrative issues to systemic barriers, Native Americans give voting outlook heading into 2026 elections
Shaun Griswold
On Sept. 11, Tex Hall told a group at the Harvard Kennedy School that free press restrictions in Indian Country played a role in his disqualification from a tribal chairman election on the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation in North Dakota.
He appeared on a panel alongside several other Native Americans and voting rights groups from across the country at an event hosted by the Project on Indigenous Governance and Development at the Harvard Kennedy School. The event was held in collaboration with Buffalo’s Fire and the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance.
During four panel discussions, speakers said that the 2026 election has already brought access issues for Native American voters and prospective candidates. The issues include administrative changes not made public, regular polling sites suddenly closed, mail-in ballot misinformation and other potential violations of the Voting Rights Act.
Addressing the lack of free press rules or ordinances within tribal communities was described as an effective and critical means to improve access and information for elections. Tribes that have implemented free press protections have noticed better tribal governance overall and more civic participation in elections, panelists said.
Only 5 of the 575 federally recognized tribal nations have free press protections in their tribal charters or constitutions.
- 1.Bret Ann Serbin. Competing government rules create confusion ahead of MHA tribal elections. Buffalo's Fire.
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