Get Out The Native Vote (GOTNV) is a subordinate organization under the Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) ¹ that seeks to increase Alaska Native voter education and turnout and revitalize Alaska Native civic interest. ²

GOTNV is a part of the Rural Youth Voter Fund, which is run by the left-of-center Rural Democracy Initiative and the Movement Voter Project. ³

The organization should not be confused with the program of the same name run by the National Congress of American Indians. ⁴

History and Leadership

Get Out The Native Vote (GOTNV) began as an informal gathering of Alaska Native people as a grassroots effort until 1999. At that time, the organization became the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANSCA) Regional Organization. In 2004, ANSCA Regional Organization created GOTNV as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. ⁵

In 2020, GOTNV was acquired by the Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC). ⁵ GOTNV became an umbrella organization of CITC in 2024. ⁶

Michelle Sparck is the executive director of Get Out the Native Vote. ²

Gloria O’Neill is the director of GOTNV. ⁷ She is also the president and chief executive officer of the CITC. ⁵

Activities and Funding

Get Out The Native Vote (GOTNV) is a subordinate organization under the Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) ¹ that seeks to increase Alaska Native voter education and turnout and revitalize Alaska Native civic interest. ² GOTNV hired 30 election workers for the 2024 election cycle. ⁸

A separate organization that is different from the program of the same name run by the National Congress of American Indians, ⁴ GOTNV supports civic engagement for Alaska Natives. ² In a document published by Third Plateau, Native Americans in Philanthropy, and Civic Resolve, GOTNV was classified as a Native American-led organization that works on get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts, voter registration, and voter education efforts. ²

GOTNV has encouraged higher voter turnout for Alaska Natives ⁹ and engages in voter registration in Alaska. In recent elections, the organization has worked to increase low-propensity voter turnout and promote absentee voting. ⁶

GOTNV is a part of the Rural Youth Voter Fund, which is run by the left-of-center Rural Democracy Initiative and the Movement Voter Project. ¹⁰

Policy Positions and Activism

Get Out The Native Vote launched a strategic plan in 2021. ⁵ The group has released a voting guide for Alaska voters in recent election cycles ¹¹ and has helped sign-up students to work as Youth Ambassadors under the Alaska Division of Elections. ²

GOTNV has produced videos explaining the policy of ranked choice voting in Alaska. ^{12 13} Alaska U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R) has spoken to GOTNV about increasing turnout in Alaska. In 2010, Sen. Murkowski won her re-election write-in campaign due in large part to support from Alaska Native leaders. ¹⁴

Outside commentators have said that Alaska Natives have formed a “bulwark” to support ranked choice voting in the state. GOTNV director Michelle Sparck has said that the inability to repeal ranked choice voting showed the “power” of the Alaska Native voting bloc, as Native-majority House districts opposed the removal of ranked choice, 64 percent to 36 percent. ¹⁵

In 2023, GOTNV spent $250,094 to amplify Alaska native voices through get-out-the-vote, turnout, and participation activities. ¹⁶

Funding

Get Out The Native Vote receives funding from individual contributions, grants, and program service revenue. ¹⁷ In 2023, the organization reported revenue of $368,469 and expenses of $336,374. GOTNV reported revenue of $110,478 and expenses of $137,527 in 2022. ¹⁸

In 2022, the organization received two $100,000 grants from the Tides Foundation and $17,200 from left-of-center environmentalist advocacy group Clean and Prosperous America. ¹ GOTNV has also received grants from the Rural Democracy Initiative. ¹⁹

1. “Get Out the Native Vote.” Cause IQ. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/get-out-the-native-vote,371762207/.
2. “Indigenous-led Civic Engagement.” Third Plateau. 2023-2024 Guide. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://thirdplateau.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/Indigenous-led-Civic-Engagement-Guide-11.pdf.
3. “ Two opportunities to make an impact.” Clean & Prosperous America. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://cleanprosperousamerica.org/fundraising-drive/.
4. “Announcing the Sko Vote Den 2024 Mini-Grants.” National Congress of American Indians. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://nativevote.org/grants.
5. “GOTNV Strategic Plan.” Get Out the Native Vote. December 2021. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://aknativevote.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GOTNV_Strategic_Plan_2021-1.pdf.
6. “About.” Get Out the Native Vote. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://aknativevote.com/about/.
7.  “Get Out the Native Vote.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2023. Part VII. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/371762207/202432259349303008/full.
8. Ruskin, Liz. “Advocates seize AFN convention as opportunity to rally the Native vote.” Mary Peltota for Congress. October 21, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://marypeltola.com/advocates-seize-afn-convention-as-opportunity-to-rally-the-native-vote/.
9. “Get Out the Native Vote.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Part III. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/371762207/202310449349201241/full.
10. “Two opportunities to make an impact.” Clean & Prosperous America. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://cleanprosperousamerica.org/fundraising-drive/.
11. “GOTNV: Alaska In-Person Voting Guide.” CITC Alaska YouTube Channel. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJPS0CNxsqM.
12. “Ranked Choice Voting Explained – Get Out the Native Vote.” CITC Alaska YouTube Channel. Uploaded August 11, 2022. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3blA_NmbK4E.
13. “Ranked Choice Voting.” Get Out The Native Vote. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://aknativevote.com/educate-yourself/ranked-choice-voting/.
14.  Rosen, Yereth. “Campaign to boos Native voting combats both apathy and logistical challenges.” Alaska Beacon. October 23, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/10/23/campaign-to-boost-native-voting-combats-both-apathy-and-logistical-challenges/
15. Sabino, Pascal. “Powered by Native Voters, Ranked-Choice Voting and Open Primaries Survive in Alaska.” Bolts. November 22, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://boltsmag.org/alaska-measure-2-results/
16. “Get Out the Native Vote.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2023. Part III. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/371762207/202432259349303008/full.
17. “Donate.” Get Out The Native Vote. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/gotnv/.
18.  “Get Out the Native Vote.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/371762207/202432259349303008/full.
19. “Rural Democracy Grantees.” Rural Democracy Initiative. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://ruraldemocracyinitiative.org/network/grantees/.