Early Results in Cherokee Nation Election Show Baker Beating Smith by Over 2,000 Votes

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

Unofficial Results

TAHLEQUAH - The Cherokee Nation Election Commission adjourned Sunday evening and will reconvene this morning at 8 am cdt to continue verifying absentee ballots. This process is expected to take most of Monday.

According to the Commission after all precincts, including walk-in voting, have been counted the unofficial results show Bill John Baker receiving 6,223 votes and Chad Smith receiving 4,046 votes. No absentee ballots have been counted. In the special election nearly 12,000 registered Cherokee voters requested absentee ballots.

On Sunday morning the Cherokee Nation Election Commission began counting ballots cast during the special election for Principal Chief.

"We know this has been a long process and that our citizens are eager to know who will serve as the next Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation," said Susan Plumb, chairperson of the commission. "The Commission has developed a plan and timeline to decrease the chances of human error and provide the Cherokee people with an election in which they can have faith."

The Election Commission released unofficial results of ballots cast during September 24 precinct voting and the walk-in voting at the Cherokee Nation Election Services office in Tahlequah.

Because of the Cherokee Nation's at-large voting district, the commission will spend much of Sunday afternoon and Monday verifying a large number of absentee ballots.

"Although we are releasing these numbers early, it is important that Cherokee citizens and the candidates understand that this will only be a portion of the numbers," says Plumb. "And as we all know; no winner is decided until the last Cherokee citizen's vote is counted."

The Commission anticipates counting all absentee ballots and challenged ballots on Tuesday. It is anticipated that all ballots will have been counted and the unofficial results published by Wednesday.

posted October 10, 2011 9:45 am edt