Arizona Native Vote

“Betty didn’t apply for food assistance as a political act. She applied because she wanted her family to have enough food to eat.

She submitted her application in November 2025 and waited. There was no denial letter. No update. No interview.

She hitchhiked 44 miles to the nearest Arizona Department of Economic Security office in Chinle. She was handed an 800 number and told to call it. She called and called. No one answered.

She hitchhiked home.

Betty is one of 432,000 Arizonans who have lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP) benefits since July 2025 — a 47% drop, the steepest decline in the nation. More than 213,000 children were served by SNAP. On the Navajo Nation it was one out of every three households.”
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Our ED published an Op-Ed in the AZ Republic/AZ Central Sunday paper 6/5/26. Our Arizona Native Vote team has been working hard over the past few months helping our communities understand the impact of federal and state policies, and their voice and vote. But also what folks can do about it. Community members are taking agency in their own hands and sharing their stories with elected officials about their SNAP, healthcare, vote centers, veterans issues and more.

Read full stories and photo gallery here:
www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2026/06/05/snap-cuts-chaos-arizona-tribal-members-opinion/90387521007/

Get the free version by visiting Arizona Native Vote blog arizonanativevote.org