Harrison v. Laveen
- In 1948, Arizona was provided the opportunity to change their constitution when two NAs, Harrison and Austin were denied registering to vote,
Because of the clause that made them wards of the government.
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled in Harrison’s favour. Reversing Porter v. Hall of 1928.
By summer of 1948, Indian residents of Arizona were allowed to vote.
Trujillo v. Garley
In the same year:
NA residents of neighbouring New Mexico were also granted the right to vote.
- New Mexico, like several other Western states argued that since those NAs that lived on reservations were not subject to state taxes, they had no right to participate in state elections.
The argument had been that there could be no representation without taxation.
In June 1948, Michael Trujillo, a member of the Pueblo, WW2 veteran and BIA schoolteacher challenged this.
The Albuquerque court ruled in Trujillo’s favour.
Stating that the statues that denied Indians the right to vote were unconstitutional and violated the 14th and 15th Amendment.
