The Navajo Nation supreme court has today,Thursday Oct. 23, ordered tribal election officials to postpone the Navajo Nation's November 4 presidential election and reprint ballots without the name of candidate Christopher Deschene.
A new date has not been set.
The Navajo Nation board of election supervisers has supported the validity of Deschene's candidacy.
Still unknown is the outcome of a bill scheduled to come before the Tribal council today and how it would affect or be affected by this ruling.
The full Council begins meeting today and will consider the bill , Legislation # 0298-14, entitled " An Action Relating To An Emergency; To Address A Matter Which Directly Threatens The Sovereignty Of The Navajo Nation; Amending Language Requirements Of The Navajo Nation". The bill states, in part that,
"language proficiency shall be determined by the people voting in favor of the person upon the right and freedom of the Dine to choose their leaders."
If passed, this bill would apply retroactively to 2014 elections .It needs only a simple majority from the 24 member council to pass.
Current Navajo Nation president Ben Shelly, would then have 20 days to approve or veto the bill.
Today's Navajo Nation Supreme Court ruling seems unlikely to settle the matter clearly for NN voters.
source: AP ,via: http://www.usnews.com/...
Fri Oct 24, 2014 at 8:22 AM PT: Evidently the Full Councill passed a resolution last night that may be a game changer. more to follow:expect statements today