The majority of polls on the White Earth reservation, which would serve the tribal community and villages will not be open. That’s to say that there is no where to vote in person in the towns of White Earth, Ogema and Callaway- three of the largest tribal villages on the reservation. Pine Point residents can still opt to vote in the Pine Point township hall- about three miles out of town on election day- and the bus will be available to make that run. However, most tribal voters on White Earth will be challenged this year, with fewer polling places, must go to the Becker County Court house to vote.
Sarah LittleRedfeather Kalmanson, rode with John Shimek, Lorna Hanes and two young men to vote this past week. They found confusion at the Court house. The County Recorders office noting that the data base did not correspond with the address, since it was a 4-digit code not a 5-digit code number address.
“We kept saying the address is legitimate and it’s correct ... she kept saying it isn’t in our database showing it’s a physical address and that MN addresses are 5-digits not 4-digits ... I said well your system is incorrect and please check again cause it shows up on google maps and google earth as an address. I said I can assure you it’s accurate. His ID was issued by tribal government; a sovereign government that’s recognized. “There was a long exchange between the hopeful voters and the county officials, and then, “finally a coworker in the back county office verified the address …and the young man was registered to vote …”