A Native American voting rights group and two tribes have filed a federal lawsuit against several South Dakota state agencies, alleging that they area violating federal law by failing to offer adequate voter registration services.
The Oglala and Rosebud Sioux Tribes and the Four Rights advocacy group say in their suit that voter registration among Native American in the state has dropped precipitously since 2004.
The lawsuit alleges that state agencies such as the DMV and Health and Human Services failed to provide ample opportunities to register to vote or update voter registration information at offices near Native American reservations.
Federal law requires the agencies to help people register to vote at those kinds of offices, including ones that provide public assistance or serve people with disabilities.