Access to the Ballot: The Fight for Native Voice, The Voting Rights Act and the Soul of Democracy with Jacqueline De León

In this episode, Carri and Brad sit down with Jacqueline De León, trailblazing attorney at the Native American Rights Fund, to shine a light on the urgent, often invisible battle for full voting rights in Indian Country. They break down the modern barriers keeping Native communities from the polls—voter ID laws, distant polling places, forgotten infrastructure, and policies that disguise racial exclusion as bureaucracy. Jacqueline shares hard-won stories from the front lines, from her work documenting discrimination to winning landmark legal battles that shape access to democracy for hundreds of thousands across the country. What does it take to bring justice to a system that still sidelines Native voices? How do we move from coverage and conversation to real, structural change? This episode dives into the myth that America is “post-racial,” the persistence of modern literacy tests, the community power behind grassroots organizing, and what success looks like—on paper and on the ground. The Voting Rights Act is under threat; the stakes for protecting democracy have never been higher. Carri, Brad, and Jacqueline explore how power, representation, and the promise of multiracial, participatory democracy remain inextricably linked, and why the fight for the soul of American democracy runs through Native Country. Go to https://narf.org/ to learn more about their work and donate! Be sure to click that FOLLOW button on Spotify,  Apple Podcasts, or SUBSCRIBE button on YouTube, so that you don’t miss out on our coverage of the most pressing and interesting news stories.  Have thoughts about this episode? Have ideas on topics we should discuss? Let us know! Email us at [email protected], DM us, or leave a comment on YouTube. Also, share this episode with a friend, a bestie, or humans you want to foster political discourse with.  Twigg & Jenkins is produced by Culture House and Enfranchisement Productions.