Background: Last week The Navajo Nation Supreme court ruled in favor of two plaintiffs who sought to have Chris Deschene removed from the ballot for Navajo Nation president . The Navajo Board of Elections Supervisors asked for legal clarification on the matter.
One week later , Monday October 29, the two plaintiffs asked that the Supreme court hold the Election Board and the Deschene campaign in contempt for failing to immediately remove Deschene from the ballot, failing to select a new Presidential candidate and running mate, failing to delay and reschedule the Nov. 4 election, and failing to print new ballots, ( voting has been ongoing since October 9.)
Tuesday ,October 30,, the Navajo Nation Election Board Commissioner, Wallace Charley, announced that Deschene's name would not be removed from the ballot, stating
"The Navajo are citizens of the United States; there is a constitution that gives the principle that people have a right to vote, and their votes cannot be denied," Charley told reporters at KOB 4 in Albuquerque. "So based on that, the Navajo Board of Elections Supervisors will not back off on this principle. Whether that means going to jail – fine. We'll go to jail and see what comes out of this."
Wednesday, Deschene posted a photo of his grandfather , a WWII Navajo Code talker, who was taking the podium for Chris at a Kayenta rally.
From Deschene, " He defended our country with our language, and it’s being used to divide the Diné. Tonight, he used our language to share the truth with hundreds of people.
Many of you have asked why I didn’t take the fluency test. It’s time for me to tell you. I will not allow any member of our nation to be singled out. To be set up for failure. To be tested unfairly. To be left to defend ourselves to the outside. This has happened to us before. It will not happen under my watch. This test was flawed. This test was designed to divide the nation. This test was unacceptable. I am proficient in Diné Bizaad. I am qualified to be your president. I want to be your president.
I am still on the ballot. I have not conceded. I will never stop defending our fundamental rights. I’m told I’ll get in trouble for campaigning. But you won’t get in trouble for voting. You need to vote now"
Navajo Nation Arizona votes are also crucial in the AZ CD-01 race and may well make the difference for Dem Rep Anne Kirkpatrick in the Nov. 4 election. Deschene has run as a Democrat in years past and has been invigorating voter inclusion and participation throughout the campaign.
More details on the specific motion before the Navajo Nation Supremem Court below the fold
The motion currently before the Supreme court was filed Monday by Dale Tsosie and Hank Whitethorne , who came in 10th and 15th, respectively, during the August 26 primary election.
They ask the Supreme Court to schedule a hearing requiring attendance by all members of the election board and the election office’s executive director , to explain why they have not complied with last week's Supreme Court order .
They request the presence of police officers at that hearing, that a bench warrant be issued if commission members fail to attend ,and that they be detained for contempt of court until the order is complied with. in addition they ask that the court strip board members of their elected position and deem them unqualified for current or future tribal office.
The three member Supreme court has not yet ruled on these requests.
A hearing on the motion is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, at 10 AM
full article linked below
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/...