US federal judge rules that Sioux tribes in South Dakota have standing in voting rights lawsuit News
mounsey / Pixabay
US federal judge rules that Sioux tribes in South Dakota have standing in voting rights lawsuit

US District Judge Lawrence Piersol ruled Tuesday that two South Dakota Sioux tribes have standing in a lawsuit against South Dakota over alleged National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) violations. The case is in the US District Court for the District of South Dakota Western Division.

The complaint alleges that several state agencies did not offer voter registration services and violated the NVRA. The claim alleges the agencies violated the NVRA when they failed to update voters’ registration information at the Department of Motor Vehicles and public assistance officers. This allegedly deprived thousands of tribal members of federally guaranteed opportunities to register to vote by failing to meet NVRA obligations. The complaint also reports a decrease in voter registration applications originating in public assistance agencies in South Dakota.

The goal of the NVRA is to increase the number of eligible citizens who can register to vote in federal elections. It also seeks to protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure accurate and current voter registration rolls are maintained.

Judge Piersol ruled that the plaintiffs had standing under Article III of the Constitution and the NVRA.

The two Sioux tribes are joined by Four Directions Inc, a voting rights group for native communities.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Egypt President Anwar Sadat visits Israel

On November 19, 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Israel, becoming the first leader of an Arab nation to officially visit. Two years later, President Sadat became the first Arab leader to recognize Israel by signing the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty. Read President Sadat's address to the Israeli Knesset.

Jay Treaty signed

On November 19, 1794, US Chief Justice John Jay and British foreign secretary Lord Grenville signed a treaty in Philadelphia under which British forces pulled out of the disputed Northwest Territory. Review the Jay Treaty.