Staff Reports
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The 25th Navajo Nation Council voted in support of Legislation No. 0001-26, approving the 2025 Reapportionment Plan, March 5. The legislation is sponsored by Council Delegate Arbin Mitchell.
“Reapportionment is an important responsibility that ensures fair representation for our Navajo people,” Mitchell said. “I want to thank the Navajo Nation Council, the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors, and the Navajo Election Administration for the many months of work reviewing data, holding public hearings, and updating this plan so that it better serves the Navajo Nation and ensures our communities are represented fairly for the next decade.”
Reapportionment is required under Navajo Nation law and must occur every 10 years to maintain substantially equal legislative districts based on population while also considering chapter boundaries, agency boundaries, and the unique geographic and cultural structure of the Navajo Nation.
The Navajo Board of Election Supervisors is responsible for developing proposed plans and recommending options to the Navajo Nation Council. According to the legislation summary, the plan is intended to designate voting precincts and legislative districts that are approximately equal in population and consistent with Navajo Nation law.
During the review process, the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors developed several draft plans using primarily 2020 federal census data. Public hearings were held across the Navajo Nation’s five agencies from Oct. 27 through Oct. 31 to gather input from chapter officials, community members, and other stakeholders. After reviewing feedback and conducting additional analysis, the Board recommended three options to the Council, with Plan 5 listed as the preferred plan.
During the Feb. 12 Naabik’íyáti’ Committee meeting, the committee approved amendments that adjusted several chapter placements within legislative districts. The amendment modified Plan 5 by moving Jeddito Chapter from Legislative Area 10 to Legislative Area 11 under the Fort Defiance Agency and relocating Bodaway-Gap Chapter from Legislative Area 1 to Legislative Area 4 within the Western Navajo Agency.
The 25th Navajo Nation Council voted on this legislation on the consent agenda with 16 in favor and one opposed. Once certified and delivered to the Office of the President and Vice President, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren will have up to 10 calendar days to act on the resolution.
