Choctaw Nation
Kelsey Brown
DURANT – Three districts of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) have seats up for election to the Tribal Council in 2021, announced the Choctaw Nation Election Board.
“The Election Board is now in session and will remain so until completion of the election process,” said Candace Perkins, director of Voter Registration and secretary of the Election Board. Filing for 2021 Choctaw Nation Tribal Council seats is final and elections are slated for mid-summer.
Every two years six seats on the 12-person Tribal Council are up for election. Councilmembers for District 6, District 9, and District 12 are unopposed this year and will not appear on the ballot.
Seats to be voted on in 2021 include the following districts and their candidates:
- District 4 with Jess Henry and Jennifer Roberts
- District 7 with Adrian Johnico, Melissa Reich, James H. Smith and Joey Tom
- District 10 with Anthony Dillard (incumbent) and Sherman Bo Miller
There are no constitutional amendments to be determined, with only a tribal council representative election on the ballot. All registered voters affiliated with Districts 4, 7 and 10 will receive mail ballots. Voters may choose to vote by mail-in ballot or vote in person.
The Voter Registration Department can help tribal members update their information and understand the election process up to and including Election Day. Tribal election information can be found on the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma website at www.choctawnation.com/elections.
Perkins said, updating your voter information early is important for timely ballot distribution and to ensure that each eligible tribal member gets to vote.
The Choctaw Nation Election Board may be contacted 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the ChoctawNation of Oklahoma Headquarters, 1802 Chukka Hina, Durant, Okla., by email at ElectionBoard@choctawnation.com, or by phone 800-522-6170 ext. 2989 or 2633.