Celebrate National Voter Registration Day at Rock the Native Vote Family Day this weekend

(TVLSE, Okla.) Since 2012, nonpartisan groups have been celebrating National Voter Registration Day in various ways - sharing voter information, learning from community members and, of course, registering people to vote. 

Ahead of this year’s official celebration day on September 15, Rock the Native Vote is inviting community members to Dream Keepers Park this Sunday for a Rock the Native Vote Family Day, complete with plenty of fun for all ages.

Rock the Native Vote Tulsa coordinator Walela Knight (Choctaw and Cherokee) said they hope the whole community shows up. 

“We want all the parents, all the kids, grandparents, aunts, and uncles,” Knight said. “Regardless if they're already registered to vote, we want everyone to attend.”

She told us they chose to make this a full family event to give back to the local Indigenous community in a fun way while also educating people and motivating people to exercise their right to vote.

“By bringing their kids, we're setting an example for our next generation that political involvement and activism is important,” Knight said.

Registering voters is halfway to the finish line. Knight said their ultimate goal is to get more participation at the polls, citing Oklahoma’s last place ranking for voter turnout and last month's low voter turnout.

According to the Oklahoma State Election Board, 535,738 people participated in the August 25 Election. With 2,434,780 people registered to vote in Oklahoma, that’s a turnout of just 22 percent.

“If our elections are only getting 22% voter turnout, that means if enough people actually show up to vote, we can make a real change to our state,” Knight said. “And elect officials who actually care about Oklahoma citizens and elect candidates who support tribal sovereignty.” 

Knight said Oklahoma’s barriers to voting makes participation harder, including the state’s biennial purging of voter registrations. 

“Making it imperative to check your voter registration status and often,” Knight said. “There is also just the general distrust of the government, which is completely justified not just in Oklahoma but nationwide.”

But, Knight said, Oklahoma's biggest problem is apathy.  

“Our citizens are made to feel like their vote doesn't matter but it really does,” Knight said. 

“Our existence is resistance and our existence is political. It affects our kids' education, our health, our food, our streets, and our equality.  We've seen how the Native vote makes a real difference, like in Arizona.” 

Knight is referencing the 2020 presidential election, when Joe Biden won Arizona by just 10,457 votes. Precincts on and around the Navajo Nation delivered Biden an advantage of more than 33,000 votes, more than three times his statewide margin of victory.

The Rock the Native Vote Family Day is Sunday, September 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dream Keepers Park, located at 1875 S Boulder Park Dr., Tulsa.

Oklahoma’s General Election is November 3. The last day to register to vote in that election is October 9.

Those registering to vote at the Rock the Native Vote Family Day for the first time will need to bring their Oklahoma ID.