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Notice of Election

SAULT STE. MARIE TRIBE OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS
NOTICE OF ELECTION
JANUARY 27, 2012

The Election Committee of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians would like to inform you that a tribal election will be held for the Tribal Board of Directors this year; with a primary held in spring and the general election held this summer. Below are important dates and information pertaining to the election.

The timetable for the election process is as follows: (All deadlines are 5 p.m. ET).

March 29   Deadline for voter registration. Last day to receive Letter of Intent for potential candidates. Roll of registered voters prepared and posted. Nomination petitions available.
April 18    Nominating petition deadline.
April 25    List of eligible candidates available.
April 30    Deadline for contests relating to nominations and voter registration.
May 2       Blank primary ballots mailed to voters.
May 24     Primary election date.
May 29     Deadline for contests relating to vote count.
June 6      Blank ballots for general election mailed to voters.
June 28    General Election day.
July 2       Deadline for contest relating to vote count.
TBA          Installation of Officers.

OFFICERS TO BE ELECTED
Tribal Chairperson
Unit 1: 3 members 
Unit 2: 1 member
Unit 3: 1 member 
Unit 4: 1 member
The term of all officers will be four years.

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
The election will be conducted by mail to the address shown in the Tribal Registrar's records. It is the responsibility of the tribal member to ensure that the address shown for him or her is correct. Please contact the Tribal Registrar’s Office for any changes: Tribal Registrar’s Office, 2428 Shunk Road, Mailing address: P.O. Box 1628, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 phone: (906) 635-3396 or 1 (800) 251-6597.

VOTING PROCEDURE
All ballots will be mailed to registered voters by first class mail. In order to be counted, ballots must be received by the Tribal Election Committee by 5 p.m. at the United States Post Office-Sault Ste. Marie location on May 24, 2012, for the primary election and on June 28, 2012, for the general election. A Post Office Box is provided by the United States Post Office for return of the ballots. The address of the box will be included on the ballot.

VOTER REGISTRATION
Tribal members who will be 18 years of age or older on the date of the election are eligible to vote. The Tribal Election Code states all Resident Members in an election unit shall automatically be registered and Non-resident Members can choose one of the five election units in order to vote in Tribal Elections. Registration is permanent unless you move in/out of an election unit. Registration forms must be received by the Tribal Election Committee, ninety (90) days prior to the general election, in order to vote in the upcoming elections.

Voter registration is open and tribal members who need to register (all previously registered members are considered permanently registered) can contact the Tribal Election Committee at the address given below or call the Executive Assistant at (906) 635-6050 or 1-800-793-0660 or the Tribal Registrar's Office. In order to register, you must complete and return a voter registration form to the: Tribal Election Committee, P.O. Box 102, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783, before 5:00 p.m. on March 29, 2012. Registration forms received after that time or not completed will be deemed unregistered for this election.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Nomination Of Candidates: Any tribal member who meets the requirements detailed in The Tribal Election Ordinance is eligible for election to office. A candidate for nomination must be eighteen years of age or older by June 28, 2012, a qualified voter, and have established one year residency within the Election Unit which they seek to represent. Any member; who holds appointed/elected position in another unit of government, has been convicted of election fraud, misdemeanors involving gambling, theft, dishonesty or fraud, or a felony offense is ineligible for election to office. Any person elected shall voluntarily resign employment position and/or surrender any rights under any contract with the Tribe prior to assuming office. To be nominated, a candidate must file a letter of intent, background investigation forms, nominating petition, campaigning financing forms, etc. with the Tribal Election Committee in accordance with the Election Ordinance. A nomination petition must bear the original signatures of the proper number of registered voters from the unit to be represented. A voter may sign only as many petitions as there are offices to be filled from their unit. Petitions must be submitted on the forms provided by the Election Committee obtained at the designated offices.

Campaign Finance Reporting: The Election Committee requires candidates and others who expend money on the election to file reports on campaign fundraising and spending. If you plan to spend money on the election, you must contact the Election Committee to obtain the proper forms before doing so. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in criminal prosecution.

Election Contests & Complaints: Any tribal member may raise election disputes before the Election Committee. All disputes must be stated in writing, addressed to the Chairperson of the Election Committee, contain the original signature and received under procedures provided in the Election Ordinance. The Election Committee will review disputes according to the Election Ordinance. Specific procedures will be available upon request.
 
Election Ordinance: This letter is a narrative statement of the requirements of the Election Ordinance and the Constitution. The Ordinance and Constitution are controlling, and may be examined at any tribal office. Questions regarding the election should be directed to the Tribal Election Committee.

Designated Offices: Designated Offices are the tribal offices as to which additional election material is available and for delivery of correspondence. Each designated office is defined in the Election Ordinance. Please note: Unit 1 the designated office shall be The Tribal Court Office, located at the George Nolan Judicial Building, and Unit 3 shall be the Human Resource Office, located at 3015 Mackinac Trail.

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Michael McKerchie, Election Committee Chairman