Secretary Fontes Gives Report to Navajo Nation Council Fall Session

October 17, 2023

Pledges to Work with Tribal and County Officials to Expand Voting Access, Protect Voters

WINDOW ROCK - Secretary of State Adrian Fontes addressed the Navajo Nation's 2023 Fall Council Session on Monday, affirming his support for the expansion of ballot access on tribal lands and protecting the rights of tribal voters to be heard in our elections.

Secretary Fontes said: "The right to vote is a sacred franchise, and I take my role as the protector of those rights seriously. As Secretary of State, I pledge to continue working with our tribal and county partners to make voting easier and expand access to the ballot. I also promise to redouble our efforts to register more eligible voters, to consult with our tribes on elections issues, and to expand broadband access that will allow more tribal voters to be heard in our democratic process."

Among the dignitaries on hand for the Secretary's report were President Buu Nygren, Vice President Richelle Montoya, Speaker Crystalyne Curley, and delegates from Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.

Secretary Fontes' report to the Navajo Nation Council came after this week's announcement of his designation of Native Health as a Voter Registration Agency in Arizona. The designation, which allows for increased registration efforts focused specifically on Native American voters, is the first made by a Secretary of State.

Last month, Secretary Fontes led a working session with tribal leaders, county election officials, and voting rights advocates at a Summit of Tribal and County Officials hosted by the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona. The event served as a forum for fostering relationships and strengthening collaboration between key stakeholders in preparation for the 2024 elections.

In addition to his duties as Arizona's Chief Elections Officer, Secretary Fontes spoke about his Business Services Division, which approves millions of dollars in investment in the Arizona economy, and his role as head of the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records, which distributes millions of dollars in funding to rural libraries.

Secretary Fontes also took the opportunity during Domestic Violence Awareness Month to highlight the work of his office's Address Confidentiality Program, which has enrolled almost 1,000 households in services that shield the addresses of victims from their predators.