Challenges to Sault Tribe's May Secretarial Election Dismissed

Three election challenges have been dismissed and results from the May Secretarial Election of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians have been officially approved by the U.S. Department of Interior.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) notified the tribe June 11 that three election challenges were ruled unjustified and/or were not submitted according to federal regulations. The results of the Secretarial Election were then approved and validated by the Department of the Interior.

Approximately 86% of tribal members casting votes in the election approved a constitutional amendment eliminating a board members' right to serve as both an elected official and tribal employee at the same time.

The tribe now has the capability to officially include the amendment into a new published constitution.

The first challenge to the election results, submitted by William Bouschor, was to the sufficiency of the number of votes cast, and was dismissed because Mr. Bouschor was not a qualified voter because he had not registered to vote.

The second challenge, submitted by Joanne Carr, asserted that only members living in the tribe's seven- county service area should have been allowed to vote in the election. The second challenge was found to be not supported by the regulations or the constitution or any other substantiating evidence, and was denied.

The final challenge, submitted by Betty Freiheit, asserted that individuals who are not properly enrolled tribal members were allowed to register for the election. It was dismissed because no written challenges were presented to the election board for a determination of eligibility of any registrants, and no supporting documentation was submitted. It was also noted by Terrance Virden, director of the Midwest Regional BIA Office, that membership questions are internal tribal matters and inappropriate for review by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Another challenge submitted by tribal member Mary Locke questioning whether nor not the 30% voter turn-out requirement was met, was dismissed because Ms. Locke did not register to vote in the Secretarial Election and under federal regulations cannot contest the election results. The complaint was also found to have no merit, the BIA reported.

After receiving the final results of the election challenges, tribal Chairperson Aaron Payment said, "The Regional Director interpreted that all members, regardless of their band of origin, and regardless of where they live, have a right as citizens of our tribe to exercise one of our most important rights, the right to vote."

Tribal members residing outside of the Upper Peninsula service area, including Mackinac Band descendants, are eligible to vote in tribal elections. Arecent population study shows that 62.3% of the members live outside of the service area.

The legislation initiated the tribe's first constitutional amendment in the tribe's 30-year history.