Secretarial Election puts three-branch government in membership’s hands

Tribal citizens will vote on proposed constitutional amendments to establish three separate, co-equal branches of government. Ballots will be counted Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026.

Citizens of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians will decide whether to amend the tribe’s Constitution to establish three co-equal branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial.

The federally administered secretarial election concludes Nov. 19, when ballots will be counted. Voter registration closed Oct. 19, and ballots will be mailed to registered voters by Oct. 26.

Important Election Dates
• Oct. 22: Deadline to challenge the initial Registered Voters List by 4:30 p.m. EDT
• Oct 23: Final Registered Voters List expected to be posted.
• Oct. 26: ballots mailed to registered voters.
• Nov. 19: Ballots must be received via U.S. mail by 3 p.m. EST. On Nov. 19 only, in-person delivery is available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at DreamMakers Theater at Kewadin Casino Sault Ste. Marie. Ballot counting begins at 4 p.m.
• Nov. 24: Deadline to challenge election results by 4:30 p.m. EST

Read the Proposed Amended Constitution

What is a secretarial election?

A secretarial election is a federally administered election allowing eligible tribal citizens to vote on proposed amendments to their tribe’s constitution.

Federal law and Article X of the Sault Tribe Constitution establishes the amendment process. Unlike regular Sault Tribe elections, secretarial elections are administered through the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

The current process began May 19, 2026, when the Sault Tribe Board of Directors voted unanimously to submit a proposed amended constitution to the BIA. A Secretarial Election Board was established in July to oversee election procedures.

Read more on the May 19, 2026, Sault Tribe Board Meeting

What are tribal citizens voting on?

The proposed amendments would establish three separate, co-equal branches of tribal government.

• Legislative: Creates and adopts tribal laws.
• Executive: Administers tribal government and carries out tribal laws
• Judicial: Interprets tribal laws and resolves legal disputes.

The ballot contains one question. A “yes” vote supports adopting the proposed constitutional amendments, while a “no” vote supports retaining the existing constitution.

Proposed Amended Sault Tribe Constitution

How do I vote?

Voter registration closed Oct. 19. Ballot packets will be mailed Oct. 26 to eligible citizens who registered for this election.

Completed ballots must be received by 3 p.m. EST on Nov. 19. Voters may return ballots by U.S. Mail or hand deliver them on Nov. 19 only, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., at DreamMakers Theater at Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie.

Ballot packets will include instructions for completing and returning ballots.

What is required for the amendment to pass?

Three requirements must be met:

• A majority of ballots cast must favor the amendments
• At least 30% of registered voters must participate
• The Secretary of the Interior must approve the amendments

If approved and certified, the amended constitution takes effect, establishing three co-equal branches of tribal government.

What happens if the amendments pass?

On Sept 22., the Sault Tribe Board of Directors approved a Constitution Implementation Plan to prepare for a potential transition to a three-branch government.

The plan provides an 18-month timeline for updating tribal laws while maintaining government operations and services. Current leadership, departments, programs, budgets and existing legal obligations generally remain in place during the transition, subject to the amended constitution and applicable law.

The plan does not change the current or proposed constitution. Instead, it provides guidance for implementing the new government structure if approved.

Read more on the Sault Tribe Constitution Implementation Plan

Timeline for Implementation Public Release

When will election results be available?

Ballots will be counted beginning at 4 p.m. EST on Nov. 19 at DreamMakers Theater.

Results are expected to be posted on or about Nov. 19 at the Sault Tribe Governmental Office, 523 Ashmun St., and the BIA Michigan Agency, 2845 Ashmun St., in Sault Ste. Marie.

Registered voters may submit written challenges to election results, supported by evidence, to the Secretarial Election Board Chairman Nicholas VanAlstine by Nov. 24 at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Additional resources:

Proposed Amended Sault Tribe Constitution

Current Sault Tribe Constitution

More on the Sault Tribe Constitution Implementation Plan

Timeline for Implementation Public Release

Sault Tribe Board requests secretarial election on three-branch government amendment

Resolution No. 2026-145: Authorizing Amended Constitution Submission for a Secretarial Election

Resolution No. 2026-290: Constitution Implementation Plan

Unofficial Secretarial Election Notice