Navajo Election: Residents Traverse Flooded Terrain to Reach Polls

Voters in the Dennehotso chapter of the Navajo Nation cast their ballots on November 3 despite severe flooding that has disrupted travel across the region.

Residents arrived at the Chapterhouse in trucks with mud-covered tires. Many had to drive over tractors to cross sections of road where the pavement had washed away. The area experienced three major flood events in the last month, with the most damaging event beginning on October 22.

Local contractor Kev Woolboy coordinated response efforts during the October 22 flood. He noted that man-made earth dams intended to slow the water failed under the weight of the rainfall. The floodwaters destroyed homes and newly built roads while knocking out power and water systems. Parts of the town remained covered in thick, reddish-brown silt for weeks after the event.

Phyllis Yazzie, 74, recalled being at home with her son when her niece warned her of the rising water. They attempted to leave via their dirt road but were forced to retreat to the highest point of their property. Water carved ravines on both sides of their house. Yazzie and her son spent the night in their vehicle while rescue teams attempted to reach them.

Woolboy guided a Navajo Police Department amphibious vehicle toward Yazzie’s home as darkness fell. He reported that the swirling mixture of rain and silt made it impossible to distinguish the ground from the water. The team turned on floodlights and discovered that the road had vanished entirely. They were unable to complete the rescue that night.

Two weeks later, residents were still clearing debris. On election day, a backhoe constructed a temporary route to allow isolated residents to reach the polls. Volunteer drivers and chapter employees also provided shuttles. Some voters traveled for hours to arrive at the voting site.

Vera Begay brought her 92-year-old mother, Lilien Begay, to vote. The elder had lost her home and all identification documents in the flood. Begay stated that her mother has voted every election for her entire life. The senior citizen spoke in Navajo about her emotional state following the loss of her property.

Urbina Yazzie, 27, observed the gathering at the polling site. She noted that the community came together to eat fry bread and mutton stew, a common practice at Navajo polling locations. She described the election as unusual due to the physical barriers residents faced. Yazzie said the turnout reflected a strong commitment to civic duty during a difficult period for the nation.