Communities Brace for Severe Weather as Election Day Approaches
As the Four Corners region grapples with recovery from major flooding, election officials are preparing for more severe weather threats that could impact upcoming Election Day activities. The National Weather Service has placed northern and eastern Arizona under a flood watch, effective from Saturday night through Monday morning. This alert extends to the Navajo Nation, which may experience an additional inch of rain over the weekend, compounding the effects of recent rainfall.
Navajo County’s Deputy Elections Director, Christen Haddox, has expressed urgency in preparing rural polling locations ahead of the anticipated storms. A primary concern is the potential for heavy rains to render roads impassable, particularly for voters in the northern regions of Navajo County, including the Navajo Nation.
“Specifically Black Mesa is on a terrible dirt road,” Haddox commented. “It’s not just a dirt road. It’s a sandy road. So when it gets wet, it gets very, very difficult for people to get in and out of there.”
The aftermath of last week’s flooding continues to affect many communities, including those on the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation, where services like water and electricity are still disrupted. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority reported ongoing outages in areas such as Tuba, Kayenta, Chinle, Ft. Defiance, and Shiprock as of Friday morning.
Haddox remains vigilant, stating, “I’m watching the weather every single day. Hopefully, we’re going to see some better weather Monday and Tuesday is what I have my fingers crossed for.”
To ensure voter access despite potential road closures, the county is ready to redirect voters to alternative polling sites. “We’re election officials,” Haddox explained. “We’re ready for plan A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I. So whatever happens, we’re going to figure it out and do what we have to do.”
Meanwhile, voting advocates are urging tribal members to prioritize early voting to sidestep any Election Day disruptions. Janie Parrish, executive director of Arizona Native Vote, emphasized, “Our only defense is early voting at this point and getting that message out to as many people as we can, because we don’t know what’s going to happen on Election Day.”
Parrish is actively promoting the importance of voting amidst the ongoing challenges from flooding. “We can take care of our communities and we can vote,” she said. “We need to do both. So don’t forget about voting, even though it might not be on their radar right now, considering all the emergencies.”
She also reminds Indigenous communities of the significance of their votes, highlighting their role in influencing decisions related to emergencies and infrastructure. “That’s where we have to keep telling people, ‘Your vote is directly related to things like this emergency and funding and infrastructure. And, all of this is connected — who’s in power and who’s making those decisions and funding decisions to make sure we have what we need,” Parrish noted.
Adding to the uncertainties, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced plans to monitor polling places in northern Navajo County to ensure accurate translations, though Parrish worries this might deter some voters. “Any type of police authority can deter people. You just never know. So I’m hoping that they’re there for good and not for intimidation factors. But we won’t know that,” she expressed.
The looming threat of a repeat of past disturbances is also on Parrish’s mind, recalling incidents from the 2024 presidential election when bomb threats forced polling site closures. Despite these uncertainties, Parrish remains committed to facilitating voter turnout. Her strategy for this election cycle remains consistent: transporting tribal members to polling locations and maximizing voter participation.
A resident of Rock Point, a community in the Four Corners area still dealing with the aftermath of the floods, described the event as a “once-in-a-generation” occurrence.
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