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THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2003

A South Dakota county accused of diluting Indian voting rights should settle a lawsuit "quickly and easily" to avoid a long court battle, The Sioux Falls Argus Leader says in an editorial today.

The paper says the suit against Buffalo County is an issue of fairness not just for Native Americans on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation but for the the entire county. It is just one of five similar suits that have been filed on behalf of Native voters, and more are on the way, the paper warns.

"If you represent a government body on or near a reservation, look into your districts and procedures," the paper says. "Are they fair? Do they provide an equal opportunity for all residents? Are some people being left out of the process, even if unintentionally? Listen to the warning. Pay attention, and we just might avoid more of these suits."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Heed voting-rights warning (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 4/3)

Relevant Links:
Minority Voting Rights, ACLU - http://www.aclu.org/VotingRights/VotingRightsList.cfm?c=168

Related Stories:
S.D. county dilutes Indian vote, suit alleges (3/28)
S.D. school district settles voter rights suit (3/26)
Indian voting rights suit settled (11/8)
Sioux tribal members file voting rights suit (08/06)
ACLU: Wagner is hotbed of racial tension (07/26)
Lawsuit charges Native discrimination (03/27)