Actor and Native American Chaske Spencer Video Sparks 2012 Native Vote Campaign

WASHINGTON, DC—Native American Actor Chaske Spencer, best known for his role in the Twilight movie saga, is the star of a new video released to inspire Native Americans to get out the “Native Vote.” Native Vote, a non-partisan initiative of the National Congress of American Indians, released the video almost exactly six months before national Election Day on November 6, 2012. The video highlights the power and importance of the Native Vote and encourages voters in tribal communities to understand that every voice—and every vote—counts.

“Native American voters are one of the country’s most under represented and disenfranchised group of voters . Native Vote is focused on turning out the largest Native Vote in history in 2012. Estimates show that over one million eligible Native voters are unregistered. It’s going to take people like Chaske Spencer stepping forward to help spread the word,” said NCAI Executive Director Jacqueline Pata. “This is a true grassroots effort and we need everyone to be involved to spread the word. We hope that Indian Country and non-Native people alike are inspired, especially young people, to get more involved in civic activities such as voting.”

“Nothing is more important to me than the future of our people. I started an effort called ‘Be the Shift’ to encourage young people to be involved, that’s why I support Native Vote in encouraging American Indians and Alaska Natives to vote in federal, state, and local elections,” says Chaske Spencer in the video, making its way around social media site and can be viewed on YouTube. Spencer continues, “In 2012, people all over the United States will be voting for the next President and Native people cannot be left out of the process. Be the shift, be the Native Vote. Every voice counts.”

Recent data suggests that over one million eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives were not registered to vote during the last election cycle; 34 percent of the total Native population is over 18 and eligible to vote.

NCAI’s Native Vote initiative works to inform Native voters of key deadlines, registration guidelines, voting locations and process, candidates, ballot measures, and more. The 2012 campaign has four main focus areas: Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) and Voter Registration, Voter Protection, Voter and Candidate Education, and Access to Data. The campaign provides trainings, webinars, and informational resources to tribally-appointed Native Vote coordinators and local self-appointed coordinators to support voter engagement efforts.

Chaske Spencer is actively involved in raising a national awareness of Native issues, especially through his organization, United Global Shift. United Global Shift empowers people from around the world to create sustainable, lasting change in their communities and countries.

About Native Vote: Native Vote was founded as a nonpartisan initiative of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in response to low voter participation and severe infractions against Native voters. For more information or to get involved in the 2012 Native Vote campaign, visit http://www.NativeVote.org. To learn more about United Global Shift, visit http://www.UnitedGlobalShift.com.

About the National Congress of American Indians: Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities, advances strong tribal/federal government-to-government policies, and promotes a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people, and rights. For more information, visit http://www.ncai.org.