Increasing Native power through empowering native voters

We’re working to increase the political power of Native Peoples in Washington. Join us.

Native Vote Washington was started in 2008 by a Native-led collaborative working to increase the political empowerment, education, and engagement of Native Peoples in Washington state.

We aim to support Native voters in finding their voice and power in the political process

We know that Native people have great political power in local, state, and national elections, and we serve as partners in empowering Native voters. We provide tools and education to help Native people exercise their right to vote. To this end, we increase Native voter turnout by sharing knowledge regarding candidates, political issues, combating voter suppression, and more.

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on on our work and learn more about how you can get involved.

Register to vote

Your voice matters. With elections sometimes decided by hundreds of votes, Native voters can make a difference. We have seen this in state senate races and in electing Senator Maria Cantwell. 

Be part of getting out the Native vote.

Join the movement

Vote by November 5!

Get your ballot in by election day to make sure your voice is counted. Contact your local auditor if you run into issues or need support.

Pledge to Vote

We know that Native people have great political power in local, state, and national elections. Pledge to vote and we will send you an email and text reminder when it is time to turn your ballot in for the November General Election.

Ready to take the next step?

Excited yet? We are, too! Learn about important dates leading up to Election day: 

Sept. 24:  National Voter Registration Day! 

Oct 18: Start of 18-day voting period through election day. Ballots are mailed out. 

Oct 28: Online and mail registrations must be received 8 days before election day.

Nov 5: Election day! Register to vote in person during business hours and any time before 8:00 pm on Election day. 

Native Vote Races to Watch

 

New Candidates

Nate Tyler | Makah

Washington State Representative, District 24

Patrick DePoe | Makah

Commissioner of Public Lands

Debra Lekanoff | Tlingit

Washington State Representative, District 40

Incumbents

Chris Stearns | Navajo

Washington State Representative, District 47

Native Vote Washington Leadership

Alyssa Macy (Confederated Tribes of Warms Springs), CEO

Alyssa Macy is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon and was raised on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. She is of the Wasco, Navajo, and Hopi descent. Most recently, she served her Nation as the Chief Operations Officer where she was responsible for $33 million in tribal programming and services. Her previous experiences include working transportation, campaign management, communications and international advocacy within United Nations bodies. She is a published writer and co-authored the first ever national report on Native American voting in 2005. Alyssa has been a foster parent to 6 children and her oldest daughter is in her second year of college. In her spare time, she spends time reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors. She is a graduate of Arizona State University where she received her B.S. in Justice Studies and did her graduate studies at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis.

Zara Stevens (Gros Ventres, Assiniboine), Field Director

Zara is an enrolled member of the A’aniiih (Gros Ventres) and Nakoda (Assiniboine) tribal nations of Fort Belknap, Montana.  Though she was born in Spokane, her Dad served as a solar meteorologist for the Air Force for 22 years, and she grew up at many solar observatories around the country and the world.  (Western Australia was her favorite.)  She graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2003 with a BA in English Literature, and she completed half of an MLIS at the University of Oklahoma before she realized it simply wasn’t her passion.  After working as classified staff for a few universities, Zara found her passion and began her career as a professional organizer, cutting her teeth on Higher Education labor campaigns with the American Federation of Teachers, where she also worked on multiple electoral campaigns, including the AFL-CIO portion of the Hillary ’16 campaign in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.  Later, she worked as an organizer within the Political Strategies Department of the ACLU of Washington, advancing legislative advocacy through collaboration within coalition spaces across multiple issue areas.  Zara believes strongly in community power — particularly for members of marginalized, disenfranchised, and exploited communities — if we are to make a truly significant shift away from late-stage monopoly capitalism and systemic white supremacy.  In her spare time, she plugs away at one of the two novels she is writing in perpetuity, explores the PNW with her partner, Kurt, and their two Corgi mixes, Hub and Walter, and spends regular time at her local hot yoga studio.  She thinks way too much about backyard birdwatching and gardening and has recently discovered she’s pretty good with a Traeger smoker and a cut of meat  (She’s even smoked a carrot cake, and it was amazing.)

Kady Titus (Koyukon Athabascan), Native Vote Washington Senior Organizer

Kady Titus is Koyukon Athabascan, a citizen of the Native Village of Ruby, Alaska. She grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska. Prior to working with Native Vote Washington, Kady worked with Tribes on a national level to identify, develop, and implement solar power projects that meet community needs. This included education, hands-on training, and reducing energy costs for Tribal members. She has also worked in Tribal health organizations and workforce development. Kady studied at Haskell Indian Nation University and later went on to Northwest Indian College where she focused on Native Studies Leadership. She is an alumna of Native Action Network’s 2023 Legacy of Leadership Cohort, a 10-month leadership program addressing issues and topics relevant to Native communities. In 2013, Kady relocated from Alaska to rural Eastern Washington to be closer to her paternal family. In her free time, Kady loves to travel, spend time with family and friends, and love on her fur babies, Lily (dog) and Charlie (cat). Kady is an artist, expressing her creativity and love for color in her Indigenous beadwork.

Mikayla Flores (Puyallup), Native Vote Washington Digital Field Organizer

Mikayla is an enrolled member of the Puyallup Tribe and of Mexican descent. Most recently, she was a Communications Coordinator at the Puyallup Tribe of Indians working directly with the Communications Director and the media/newspaper team. She’s previously worked as a Tribal Court Clerk at the Puyallup Tribal Court for 3.5 years, primarily working on child welfare and civil matters. Mikayla is currently the Communications Coordinator for Seattle-based nonprofit, Native Action Network where she coordinates their social media channels and bi-weekly newsletters. Working for NAN has sparked her interest in outreach to Native communities in all forms, eventually leading her to Native Vote Washington. After high school, she attended the University of Washington-Tacoma and studied Communications. Mikayla grew up involved in her culture, participating in Tribal Canoe Journey’s every summer, and staying busy with sports. In her spare time, Mikayla coaches cheer for Chief Leschi and the Puyallup Jr. Vikings. She also enjoys spending time with her family and watching her kids play sports.

Native Vote WA Advisory Committee

  • Julie Johnson (Lummi), Chair

    State Committeewoman, Clallam County Democrats; Chair, Native American Caucus of the WA State Democrats; Co-Chair, ATNI Native Vote Committee

  • Theresa Sheldon (Tulalip), Vice-Chair (c4)

    Director of Policy and Advocacy, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition; Co-Chair, ATNI Native Vote Committee; former tribal council member

  • Joel Moffett (Nez Perce), c4

    Director of Environmental and Special Projects at Native Americans in Philanthropy; Washington Conservation Action Board of Directors; Former Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee Member

  • Eddie Sherman (Navajo), c4

    Of Counsel for Hilltop Public Solutions; Chairman of the Native American Youth and Family Center Board of Directors; President of Oregon Native American Chamber; Co-Chair of ATNI Energy Committee

  • Asa Washines (Yakama), Vice-Chair (c3)

    Tribal Liaison, Washington State Office of Attorney General; previousy Census Project Director, Na’ah Illahee Fund; Tribal Relations, More Equitable Democracy; former tribal council member

  • Craig Bill (Swinomish, Colville, Choctaw), c3

    Director of Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs

  • Maverick Ryan (Cowlitz), c3

    Pyramid Communications Senior Project Strategist; member of Cowlitz Indian Tribal Council; Board of the Port Orchard Historic Theater Foundation; Washington Conservation Education Fund Board of Directors

  • Theresa Taylor (Lummi), c3