Problems With Cherokee Elections Nothing New

While digging through old newspapers for information on past Cherokee elections and political issues, I found this one in the Stilwell Democrat Journal; Stilwell, Oklahoma; June 29, 1995; p. 1. It seems like problems with Cherokee Nation elections have been going on for a long time. It is rather sad that only the names change (sometimes) but the story is pretty much always the same. 

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Strap On Your Belt! It's Going To Be A Bumpy Ride!

The new election for principal chief of the Cherokee Nation is set for September 24th. From now until then, if things go like last time, we can expect things to get nasty on both sides. So far we have heard things like "fatally flawed", stuff ballot boxes, and a slew of other terms associated with the first election that was thrown out. We are also hearing things like "Chad is a dictator!" and "Bill John Baker was part of the Byrd/constitutional crisis!" There seems to be no middle ground on this one. Either you are a die hard Chad Smith supporter or you are a die hard Bill John Baker supporter. Fall somewhere in the middle and you run the risk of being called a weak minded bitch who everyone hates; an outlander who has no business voting in the election; or a thin blood, white boy redneck who doesn't know anything about being Indian. Let me tell you, the insults are FLYING!~

Anyway, buckle up because from now till September 24th, this will undoubtedly be a bumpy ride. Not only are the Smith supporters fighting with the Baker supporters, there is also turmoil among the supporters of at least one of the candidates. It seems no one can get along, even the people on the same side. So, keep checking back in for all the upcoming posts about the new election and the goings on among the Cherokees at this critical time.

From now until the election, we plan to post some personal stories people have shared with us about each of the candidates. Sometimes it is hard to know much about a candidate by watching a debate or reading a political flier. I mean, if one is running for election, of course they are going to present themselves in the best possible light. But what about the people they have interacted with in the past? Chad Smith has been chief for a long time and Bill John Baker has been a councilor for a while, so both have been out among the Cherokee people. We will be sharing some of the stories people tell us about how the candidates are when the cameras are not around. I think it will offer some insight into who each of the candidates really are. So stay tuned............lots more coming soon.

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

The Granddaughter

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Wordless Wednesday - Cherokees Make Their Feelings Known

These photos are from one of the recent peaceful protests the citizens of the Cherokee Nation have participated in to let their feelings known about recent disputed election for principal chief that was thrown out by the Supreme Court.

**Photos used with permission of Billy Jack. All rights to the photos belong to him. (Thank you for allowing me to use them.)

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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UNOFFICIAL RESULTS - Cherokee Nation Run Off Election

These results are not official yet and they are not certified. But according to the Tahlequah Daily Press, Chris Soap has conceded the race for Deputy Chief to Joe Crittenden. They will have statements from both in their print edition tomorrow (Sunday.) According to the United Keetoowah Band Facebook page, the election commission is still counting/checking 80 challenge ballots.

Unofficial Results below.

Per a report on the UKB facebook page (they have been covering this tonight), the election commission just left without certifying the vote. Members of the crowd outside were upset and asked why but received no plausible answer as the commission left under guard. Patsy Eads Morton, election commissioner, said the commission is certifying the vote at 9 in the morning.

Story in the Cherokee Phoenix HERE.

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Cherokee Nation Run Off Election Results

Watch as they come in HERE.

I will post the final results at the end of the counting.

The Granddaughter

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Update -Run Off Election - IMPORTANT

Some people have reported they were on the voter's list and did vote in the election for chief but for some reason are not on the voter's list now. If you find yourself in this situation, call the Election Commission.

Their number is - 918-458-5899

Also, you can go ahead and vote and ask them to place your ballot in the challenge ballot box.

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Cherokee Nation Voting Precincts

2011 CHEROKEE NATION VOTING PRECINCTS

DISTRICT 1

TAHLEQUAH
SEQUOYAH HIGH SCHOOL
17091 S. MUSKOGEE AVE
TAHLEQUAH, OK 74464

KEYS
KEYS HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA
26622 S. 540 RD
PARK HILL, OK 74451

HULBERT
TOWN HALL BLDG
111 E. MAIN
HULBERT, OK 74441

BRIGGS
BRIGGS SCHOOL
17210 S. 569 RD
TAHLEQUAH, OK 74464

LOWERY
LOWERY SCHOOL LIBRARY
21132 E. 640 RD
TAHLEQUAH, OK 74464

OKAY
NEW SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER
3701 E. 75TH ST. (MAIN STREET)
OKAY, OK 74446

DISTRICT 2
 
STILWELL
WILMA P. MANKILLER CLINIC
RT 6, BOX 840
STILWELL, OK 74960
 
WESTVILLE
WESTVILLE HIGH SCHOOL .
HWY 62 & PARK ST.
WESTVILLE, OK 74965
 
CAVE SPRINGS
CAVE SPRINGS SCHOOL
OLD HWY 17
BUNCH, OK 74931
 
BELL
BELL SCHOOL
RT 5, BOX 4470
STILWELL, OK 74960
 
GROVE
GROVE COMMUNITY BLDG
104 W. 3RD ST.
GROVE, OK 74344
 
JAY
JAY SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER
816 MAIN ST.
JAY, OK 74346
 
KENWOOD
KENWOOD NUTRITION SITE
4 KENWOOD 13001
SALINA, OK 74347
 
KANSAS
POLICE DEPT/UTILITY DEPT
150 S. CHEROKEE ST.
KANSAS, OK 74347
 
CHEWEY
SKELLY SCHOOL
RT 1, BOX 918
WATTS, OK 74964

AFTON
COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER/CITY HALL
201 SW 1ST STREET
AFTON, OK 74331

DISTRICT 3

VIAN
VIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT
100 S. BLACKSTONE
VIAN, OK 74962

MARBLE CITY
MARBLE CITY HALL
122 N. MAIN ST.
MARBLE CITY, OK 74945

SALLISAW
SALLISAW FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2100 MCGEE
SALLISAW, OK 74955

MULDROW
CHEROKEE NATION COMMUNITY CENTER
601 MAIN ST
MULDROW, OK 74948

BELFONTE
BELFONTE SCHOOL
475751 ST. HWY 101
MULDROW, OK 74948

WARNER
WARNER MIDDLE SCHOOL
EVENT CENTER
1012 5TH AVE.
WARNER, OK 74469

FT GIBSON
FT. GIBSON TOWN HALL
200 W. POPLAR AVE.
FT. GIBSON, OK 74434

MUSKOGEE
THREE RIVERS HEALTH CENTER
1001 S. 41ST STREET EAST
MUSKOGEE, OK 74403

DISTRICT 4

BARTLESVILLE
KEELER HTS. COMMUNITY BLDG
1003 S. VIRGINIA
BARTLESVILLE, OK 74003

VINITA
TOM BUFFINGTON HEIGHTS
900 MCNIELS
VINITA, OK 74301

S. COFFEYVILLE
CHEROKEE NATION COMMUNITY BLDG.
215 OKLAHOMA ST
S. COFFEYVILLE, OK 74072

NOWATA
NOWATA SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER
238 N. MAPLE ST.
NOWATA, OK 74048

WELCH
GATEWAY ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH
440 W. 10TH
WELCH, OK 74369

PRYOR
AG BUILDING FAIRGROUNDS
OLD HWY 20
PRYOR, OK 74361

SALINA
SALINA AMO COMMINITY CLINIC
900 N. OWEN WALTERS BLVD
SALINA, OK 74365

LOCUST GROVE
LOCUST GROVE CITY HALL
109 E. ROSS
LOCUST GROVE, OK 74352

SPAVINAW
SPAVINAW POLICE DEPT/CITY HALL
103 LAKE AVE.
SPAVINAW, OK 74366

DISTRICT 5

TULSA
TRINITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
1055 N. GARNETT
TULSA, OK 74116

COLLINSVILLE
COLLINSVILLE LIBRARY
1223 W. MAIN
COLLINSVILLE, OK 74021

CLAREMORE
CLAREMORE VFW
1717 W. DUPONT
CLAREMORE, OK 74017

CHELSEA
CHELSEA SENIOR CITIZENS
618 PINE ST
CHELSEA, OK 74016

OOLOGAH
OOLOGAH ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH
13462 S. HWY 169
OOLOGAH, OK 74053 Tweet

Run Off Elections Today! Please Vote!

This is a critical time for us as Cherokees. "We can no longer afford to be spectators or innocent bystanders......Every eligible Cherokee voter must vote." ~ David Cornsilk

Today, voters go to the polls to decide who will be the next deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation. Because there will be a new election for chief and it is yet to be scheduled, the newly elected deputy chief will be acting as principal chief when the current chief's term expires. Because if this, we must vote wisely for someone who will be leading our nation, even if only for a short while. 

We are also voting on who will fill three seats on the council. These are all important and I hope everyone will get to the polls to let their voice be heard. If you want change in the Cherokee Nation, the time is NOW. This will not and cannot wait. Please vote.

I endorse the following candidates in the run offs -

Joe Crittenden for Deputy Chief

Mark Vance for District 1 council seat (Walkingstick is also a very good guy.)

Jodi Fishinghawk for District 2 council seat

Dick Lay for District 4 council seat

A vote for any of the people listed above would be greatly appreciated, but if you choose to vote for someone else, that is okay. Please, just vote and let your voice be heard.

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Run Off Elections Tomorrow! Please Vote!

Tomorrow, voters will go to the polls to decide who will be the next deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation and who will fill three seats on the council. These are all important and I hope everyone gets to the polls to let their voice be heard.

I endorse the following candidates in the run offs -

Joe Crittenden for Deputy Chief

Mark Vance for District 1 council seat (Walkingstick is also a very good guy.)

Jodi Fishinghawk for District 2 council seat

Dick Lay for District 4 council seat

A vote for any of the people listed above would be greatly appreciated, but if you choose to vote for someone else, that is okay. Please, just vote and let your voice be heard.

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

The Granddaughter

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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New Election for Principal Chief

There will be a new election for principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. If you did not vote before, you will be able to vote in the new election if you are registered to vote. We are still trying to find out if those not registered to vote will be able to register and vote in the new election.

To check if you are currently registered to vote, contact the Election Commission:

Cherokee Nation Election Commission
918-458-5899 or 1-800-353-2895
Fax 918-458-6101
election-commission@cherokee.org

If you are not registered, here is the voter registration form.

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Update in the Disputed Election for Principal Chief

Court will meet again at 8:30 am this morning to continue with the appeal filed by Chad Smith over the disputed election for principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. For more information, please visit the following links.

Court Hears Voter Registration and Recount Process Testimony

Cherokee Nation Officials Testify Recount Could be Flawed

Cherokee Nation Tribal Hearing on Chief Election to Continue Saturday

Cherokee Supreme Court Hears Testimony Over Election

Cherokee Nation Election

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Cherokee Nation Election and Research

Boy, the Cherokee Nation election sure has been a roller coaster ride, hasn't it? Tomorrow there will be a gathering outside the courthouse by concerned Cherokee citizens. Chad Smith has requested a new election.  As you all are aware, this election is of the utmost concern of the Cherokee people so I have been preoccupied with it. Not only do we have the issues surrounding the Principal Chief election, we also have some run offs coming up, including the office of Deputy Chief, and those are important too.

While I am busy helping with some of the campaigns and trying to keep you up to date on information from the election, I am also doing research and will soon have the first installment of my new series, "Fortune Hunters, the Guion Miller Roll, and the Birth of the Wannabe." Stay tuned!

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

The Granddaughter

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Wordless Wednesday - Fort Southwest Point - Part 1

**Note - My visit was in September of 2010. This historic site was currently under re-construction so visits at a later date may offer even more to see.


For more information, please visit the Fort Southwest Point website.

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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