Title
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE DATE OF THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL A VACANCY FOR COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT 11 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CHEROKEE NATION
Body
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation, since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of
self-government on behalf of the Cherokee People; and,
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic and continual government to government relationship with the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, a vacancy has occurred in District 11 of the Council of the Cherokee Nation by the resignation of Charles T. Hoskin, Jr., in connection with his nomination as Secretary of State; and,
WHEREAS, Article VI Section 13 of the Cherokee Nation Constitution states that upon the removal, death, resignation or inability to discharge the powers and duties of a Council member, the Council shall authorize a special election within ninety days of the vacancy when there is one year or more left remaining in the term that has been vacated; and
WHEREAS, the term of office in question has more than one year remaining; and
WHEREAS, it is a Constitutional requirement that the Council set a special election to fill this vacancy within ninety days of the vacancy; and
WHEREAS, the Election Commission is responsible for conducting special elections in accordance with the laws of the Cherokee Nation by setting dates that include, but are not limited to, opening and closing voter registration, filing periods, absentee ballot mailing dates and in-person absentee dates.
WHEREAS, Saturday, October 12, 2013, is within the ninety day time-period.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Cherokee Nation that the Council of the Cherokee Nation does hereby set the date for the election to fill the vacancy of Council person for District 11 of the Cherokee Nation on October 12, 2013 in accordance with the timeline set forth in the attached exhibit A.
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, that Council requests the Election Commission of the Cherokee Nation to establish dates, time-lines and deadlines applicable to conducting a fair election that coincides with the election date of October 12, 2013.
EXHIBIT A
PROPOSED OCTOBER 12 TIMELINE
SEPTEMBER 9 ------------------------- Voter Registration & Absentee Ballot Request Opens
SEPTEMBER 5 - 7 ------------------- Candidate Filing Period
SEPTEMBER 16 -------------------------- Voter Registration & Absentee Request Closes
SEPTEMBER 27 --------------------------- Absentee Ballots & Voter ID cards Mailed
OCTOBER 5, 8, 9, 10 ------------------- Early Walk-in Voting
OCTOBER 12 --------------------------- General Election
OCTOBER 16 --------------------------- Absentee Request for Runoff Closes
OCTOBER 21 ------------------------------- Runoff Absentee Ballots Mailed
OCTOBER 26, 29, 30, 31 -------------- Early Walk-in Voting
NOVEMBER 2 ---------------------------- Runoff Election
*** An election on October 12th does not give any vendor enough time to prepare automated machines for an election. Ballots will have to be hand-tallied at all precincts as well as all absentee ballots.