Supreme Court Protects Native Voter Who Rely on Mail Voting

July 10, 2026

A press release from the Native American Rights Fund. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 29, 2026

Today, the Supreme Court, in Watson v. Republican National Committee, upheld voters’ rights by allowing Mississippi ballots cast on time to be counted after Election Day, as permitted under state law. The decision respects longstanding absentee ballot receipt rules. It also protects Native voters who are disproportionately affected by a dearth of voter services and postal delays beyond their control.

The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) and Torey K. Dolan of the Great Lakes Indigenous Law Center submitted an amicus brief on behalf of the National Congress of American Indians, Alaska Federation of Natives, and Washington Conservation Action Education Fund in support of the petitioner in the case. The brief explained that Native voters often are forced to mail in ballots because in-person voting is made less available in their communities. Meanwhile, Native communities often lack reliable mail delivery, have fewer postal services, and endure longer mail transit time, especially in Alaska Native communities.

NARF Senior Staff Attorney Jacqueline De Leόn responded to the decision: “Today’s decision provides some protection to Native American voters, who should not lose their right to have their vote counted because their communities have less in-person voting opportunities and their mail takes longer to process and deliver than other  communities. Native voters face several unique obstacles outside their control.

For many Native communities, voting by mail is shaped by long distances to election offices, no home mail delivery, unreliable postal service, lack of access to transportation, and the realities of living in rural and remote areas. Ballots cast by election deadlines should not be discarded simply because substandard service or weather delays cause them to arrive after Election Day. Today’s ruling defends long-standing protections for Native voters and all Americans who depend on absentee voting.”

CONTACT:  Native American Rights Fund, media@narf.org