Cherokee Nation officials testify recount could be flawed

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The debate over the Cherokee Election results for Principal Chief is not over.

The Cherokee Supreme Court heard from the election commission and officials who monitored the election on Friday.

Some commissioners testified that they can't guarantee the recount was 100 percent accurate. Both current Chief Chad Smith and Chief-elect Bill John Baker claim they are the true winners.

Bill John Baker was first declared the winner in the unofficial results of last month's election. But when the official certified results were released the following Monday Chad Smith was declared the winner by seven votes. Baker requested a recount. About 15,000 votes were counted again, this time by hand. Following the recount, Baker was declared the winner by 266 votes. Chad Smith then appealed those results.

Court was in session for more than seven hours Friday. The court room was packed with voters, even more watched the trial on a TV screen in an overflow room downstairs. Attorneys for both candidates painstakingly questioned election officials about the recount process. Officials told the court that votes were checked several times before they were tallied. Despite this, several commissioners admitted there could have been human error in the recount.

Baker's camp says the commissioners simply have a suspicion that the recount could be flawed but no evidence. But Smith's side maintains the recount process was faulty and should be declared invalid.

Voters say they're ready for the election to be resolved.

The Cherokee Supreme Court will decide whether to call a new election based on Smith's appeal.

Several more witnesses will testify Saturday. The trial continues at 8:30 a.m. at the courthouse in Tahlequah.