22nd NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL |Office of the Speaker MEDIA CONTACTS Jared Touchin |928.221.9253 Jolene Holgate |928.380.4174 Chrissy Largo |928.637.5603 nnlbmunications@gmail FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2014 Navajo Board of Election Supervisors votes to proceed with general election WINDOW ROCK – The Navajo Board of Election Supervisors met today and voted 4-2 to proceed with the Navajo Nation general election on Nov. 4, while acknowledging ongoing challenges over the qualification of presidential candidate, Chris Deschene. According to Edison Wauneka, executive director of the Navajo Election Administration, members of the board cited N.N.C. § 24 (A) which states that the Navajo Election Administration shall hold the candidate applications of all candidates it has certified as eligible for a period of 10 days during which sworn challenges may be filed with the Office of Hearings and Appeals by other applicants for the same position. Originally, the Office of Hearings and Appeals ruled that the Navajo Nation Code required the dismissal of grievances filed by former presidential candidates Dale E. Tsosie and Hank Whitethorne, as they did not file until after the primary election. Appeals to the Navajo Nation Supreme Court followed and the case was remanded to the Office of Hearings and Appeals to determine whether Deschene is fluent in Navajo. Wauneka explained that today’s action by the board means the election will move forward at this time, however, he also acknowledged that the anticipated ruling by the Office of Hearings and Appeals in the Deschene case could still impact the Nov. 4 ballots. The next scheduled meeting for the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors is Oct. 9. Voter registration for the Nov. 4 general election is currently underway and the deadline to register is 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 6. Voter registration can be completed at Navajo Election Administration offices. The Nov. 4 general election will determine which candidates will assume the positions of the Navajo Nation presidency, the Navajo Nation Council, the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors, and the Navajo Nation Board of Education. # # # For news on the latest legislative branch activities, please visitnavajonationcouncil.org
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 01:27:36 +0000