Manatt is proud to join the Native American Rights Fund, Public Counsel, the Law Office of Bryan Sells and the Law Office of Randy Seiler to file a lawsuit on behalf of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and individual voters against the Lyman County Board of Commissioners for supporting an unfair at-large voting system that delayed the rollout of fair election districts for Native American voters in South Dakota.
During the 2020 redistricting process, voters on the Lower Brule Reservation and the Tribe noted that to comply with the Voting Rights Act, Lyman County had to change its at-large system and allow Reservation voters the opportunity to elect two candidates to its Board of Commissioners. Instead, the Board delayed the implementation of the new district map until 2026.
The plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief requiring Lyman County to implement its new district map without delay and to hold elections in 2022 to allow Native American voters to elect candidates of their choice. They also seek declaratory and other relief available under the applicable civil rights statutes.
Read the complete press release here.
Learn more about the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, the Native American Rights Fund and Public Counsel using their respective links.
For more information on our Manatt Votes initiative, click here.