The Muscogee Creek Nation Supreme Court is calling for a new election.
This comes after primary election results from September were called into question
Those results were called into question by the Muscogee Creek Nation Attorney General.
The question came after Principal Chief candidate Lucien Tiger petitioned the election board for a recount.
Claiming the possibility of voter fraud during the election and asked specifically for a recount of absentee ballots.
According to court documents, the Muscogee Creek Nation Supreme Court looked at the petitions and ruled the election results, invalid.
Court documents show the justices did not find specific evidence of tampering in the primary elections but found that the Election Board's lack of control and preservation methods created an opportunity for tampering.
However, the document shows the court decided that a specific investigation into tampering is not necessary.
A statement on the Tribe's website states:
" The MCN election board plans to file a motion to reconsider. If the MCN Supreme Court does not reconsider the decision, a new election will be held within 60 days of the MCN Supreme Court decision."
Candidate Lucien Tiger took to Facebook to announce the decision stating:
"I stand strong for our citizens to ensure their selection of the principal chief of our great nation is not compromised."
The Muscogee Creek Nation sent us this release shortly after this article was posted:
After the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Supreme Court decision to void the results of the Sept. 21 Primary Election, the MCN Election Board has decided to fulfill the MCN Supreme Court’s opinion. The Election Board will move forward with a new Primary Election for candidates of Office of Principal Chief, Second Chief and National Council Seat A, with the exception of George Tiger, who is no longer eligible as a candidate for Principal Chief.
“There must be absolute confidence in our election process and our system,” said Wendy Dunson, MCN Election Board Chair. “It is the Election Board’s highest priority to make certain every ballot cast is counted correctly and to ensure the integrity of this important process remains intact.”
MCN Election Board has set Nov. 2 as the new Primary Election date.
The deadline for absentee voter registration is Oct. 9. Absentee ballots will be mailed out Oct. 14. Early in-person voting will be Oct. 30 & 31 from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. at Tulsa Indian Community Center, Okmulgee Indian Community Center, Eufaula Indian Community Center and Okemah Indian Community Center.
MCN Election Board Manager, Nelson Harjo Jr. stated, “Though the Primary Election dates have been reset, voter participation is still valuable. This was the largest election we ever went through, over 5,000 people voted,” Harjo said. “I want to carry that momentum as best as we can into the new Primary Election.”
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