SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Some members of the Santee Sioux Nation are seeking to extend voting rights to those who live off of the northeast Nebraska reservation.

The Sioux City Journal reports that members gathered Friday to compile collected petition signatures calling for a secretarial election on whether to amend the tribe’s constitution to extend voting rights. If approved, elections would be open to all tribe members.

Currently, only residents of the reservation who have lived there for at least six months can vote in the election and have input on other issues.

According to 2010 US Census data, the village of Santee, Nebraska, has 346 residents, but about 2,660 total members are enrolled in the tribe, about 800 of which live on the 172-square-mile reservation.

Tribal membership is determined by birth or council decisions in cases of adoption.

Daniel Bearshield, of Sioux City, told the group of people that gathered last week they were pushing for extended voter rights because they want to be a part of their people’s future even though he and others don’t live on the reservation.

“But just because we don’t live there, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t matter when it comes to elections,” he said.

Bearshield said he hopes the influence of those living off of the reservation could help eventually establish a tribe owned community center and social programs, similar to those of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska which has offices in several locations to serve its members.

Tribal chairman Roger Trudell says that the issue of residency-based voting rights has been brought up multiple times in the past, and has been difficult to deal with.

“Some tribes allow it, some don’t. We’ve faced this before, and it’s hard to reach all their needs,” Trudell said.

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Information from: Sioux City Journal, http://www.siouxcityjournal.com