In-person early voting in Choctaw Nation elections for tribal council seats and amendments to the tribe’s Constitution are set to begin Friday before the General Election on Saturday.
Members in Choctaw Nation Tribal Districts Four, Five, Seven, and 12 will have candidates to choose from to represent their districts on the Tribal Council, while all voters will get to decide on changes to the tribe’s Constitution.
In District 12, which encompasses parts of Pittsburg, Hughes, and Coal Counties, voters will get to decide on a councilperson for the first time in 34 years after current Councilman James Frazier announced his decision not to run for another term.
Running for District 12 are Regina Mabray and Vickie McClure.
McClure worked for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma for 21 years as an associate as a community based social worker of Outreach Services. According to her bio, she also served as a trustee for the Choctaw Nation Housing Authority Board for 10 years, as well as serving on the princess pageant committee.
She says if elected to serve District 12 and the Choctaw people, “I would like to uphold the tribes values of faith, family, and culture. I feel we, as Choctaw people, need to continue to work together to move forward and prosper, but to never forget who we are and where we came from. We are truly blessed with the many services our tribe has to offer, not only our tribal members but the community as well.”
Mabrey has dedicated more than 34 years to public service as a teacher, school librarian, Director of Indian Education, and Johnson O’Malley Coordinator, according to her bio.
She says she “understands the day-to-day challenges facing Choctaw citizens in District 12” and has seen firsthand the burden of having to travel outside the district to access basic tribal services. Her top priorities include bringing more jobs to the district, expanding access to healthcare, improving the education opportunities for children, and increasing the number of LEAP homes and elder housing units in District 12.
District Five, which covers parts of Pittsburg, Haskell, and LeFlore Counties, has seven candidates running for the seat after former Councilman Ron Perry resigned after charges of sexual battery were filed against him.
Running for District Five are Tami Gonzalez Cantrell, Marlena Crase, Sharona Farmer, Kimberly Ford, Earl Smith, Vincent “Vinnie” Terrell, and Jennifer Turner.
Bios for all seven candidates can be found online at https://www.choctawnation.com/about/government/voter-registration/elections/get-to-know-your-ballot/
Also appearing on all ballots are questions regarding changes to the tribe’s Constitution.
Amendment One asks voters to “Amend the description of the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation in Article I, § 2”
The tribe says the boundaries are based on a map that is not available. The proposed description of the boundaries is clearer and more readable, and will not affect the current boundaries of the reservation.
Amendment Two asks to “Amend Article IV, § l and Article XVII to remove the reference to the State of Oklahoma and the federal government, as the Nation is a separate and distinct sovereign which has the right to make its own laws and be governed by them.”
The tribe says removing this language strengthens the Nation’s sovereignty by enabling the Choctaw Nation to be ruled by its own laws. This proposal also amends the Article XVII Oath of Office by removing “the State of Oklahoma, and the United States of America” from the Oath of Office to be uniform and further strengthen the Nation’s ability to make, amend, and be governed by its own laws.
“Nothing in this Constitution shall be interpreted in a way which would diminish the rights and privileges that tribal members have as citizens of this Nation,” the tribe states.
Amendment Three asks to change “the description of the 12 Districts of the Nation, as they are no longer accurate and have since been amended.”
The tribe states the changes are needed because “the current description of the 12 Districts and land they embrace is no longer accurate due to reapportionment by Tribal Council, which is within Tribal Council’s power. Removing the individual land descriptions for each District and providing the Tribal Council’s general authority to determine the area each District embraces by making these amendments makes the Choctaw Constitution more accurate and clearer.”
Amendment Four will “correct the spelling of Tvshka Homma in Article VIII, § 5.”
The tribe says the amendment “exercises sovereignty and protects and promotes Choctaw Culture by correctly referring to the Capitol of the Choctaw Nation by its Choctaw translation from “Red Warrior.”
Amendment Five will “remove the requirement for approval of constitutional amendments by the Secretary of the Interior in Article XVIII, § 2, which is no longer required.”
The tribe states removing the requirement from the Choctaw Constitution “enhances the Nation’s sovereignty by removing federal oversight and enables the Choctaw Nation to amend the Choctaw Constitution without federal interference or involvement.”
Mail-in ballots must be processed and received by the USPS Office in Durant no later than July 11.
Instructions on how to properly fill out and return ballots by mail are included in the envelope.
A reminder for voters to sign the affidavit on the back of the return envelope before sealing and mailing the ballot.
Voters who wish to vote in person can vote at Choctaw Nation Community Centers across the reservation on Friday and Saturday.
More information about the election and the candidates can be found online at www.choctawnation.com/elections.