The Sacred Right to Be Counted: Why Voting Is a Spiritual Practice

In many Indigenous traditions, the act of being counted is not merely bureaucratic — it is a form of witnessing. To stand, to speak, to be seen by the community is to affirm that one exists, that one belongs, that one’s voice carries weight in the circle.

The recent Supreme Court decision allowing states to continue mail-in voting under established processes is, at its heart, a protection of that sacred witnessing. As the Associated Press reported, the Court’s majority found the administration’s push to restrict mail ballots “is likely to lose in court,” with Justices Alito and Thomas dissenting.

The Court’s action limits the damage the Post Office could do to wreck the midterms. Ballots have already been mailed in several states, and nationally about a third of all voters cast ballots by mail.

For those who walk a spiritual path, the lesson is clear: trust, but verify. Protect the right to be counted. The circle must remain open to all voices.