Election and Referendum Ordinance Amendments Vote Scheduled
Sep 1, 2022
AKWESASNE -- The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Election Board announced a referendum vote will be held to approve amendments to the Election and Referendum Ordinance. Tribal voters will be able to cast their vote on the proposed changes on Saturday, Kenténha/October 29, 2022. Voting will take place at the same time as the Residency Board Special Election.
In accordance with TCR 2022-35 signed on Seskéha/August 23, 2022, tribal voters will be presented with the following referendum question: “Do you support the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council Adopting the Updated Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Election and Referendum Ordinance?’
Some of the proposed changes include the creation of an Independent Appeal Panel to hear appeals of the Election Board’s decisions, a new process for write-in candidates, and lengthening the election season by changing the date of the Tribal Caucus.
An informational meeting was held and recorded on Seskéha/August 11th to present the proposed changes, but three (3) additional meetings will be held prior to the Kenténha/October 29th referendum. Three (3) hybrid meetings will be held on September 15th, October 13th, and October 20th beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Members are asked to register in advance for the Tribal Clerk’s Office to verify tribal enrollment, as tribal meetings are intended for membership only. The registration link for the three (3) hybrid meetings are available on the Tribal Members Portal.
Advance registration is not required for in-person attendance.
Absentee Ballots will be available for tribal members who do not want to vote in-person beginning on Kenténha/October 11th by calling the Tribal Clerk’s Office at (518) 358-2272. The deadline to request an Absentee Ballot is 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Kenténha/October 26th.
Home Voting will take place on Friday, Kenténha/October 28th, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., by appointment only. In-home voting is only available for home-bound eligible voters residing on the Saint Regis Mohawk Reservation, as defined by the Treaty of 1796. To schedule an appointment, please contact the Tribal Clerk’s Office by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Kenténha/October 26th.
Voting will take place on Saturday, Kenténha/October 29th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Ionkwakiohkwaróron Tribal Administration Building Lobby. Early voting will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Kenténha/October 25th and Wednesday, Kenténha/October 26th.
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