The Tribal Constitution Reform Project (TCRP) finished its research on executive veto authority and is looking toward the next steps to bring the project to completion. When the draft finally makes its way to the Tribal Council and on to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for a Secretarial Election, the success of the project is dependent on the active participation of the Community Membership.
Throughout the reform project, Community members have wanted to know when to anticipate a Secretarial Election. At this point there are several factors that are out of the TCRP Task Force’s control that influence when the Secretarial Election will occur. However, the Task Force wants the membership to be prepared for the historical election. Membership participation is critical.
The Task Force will educate the general public on the proposed constitution document but once the draft document is submitted to the BIA with a request for a Secretarial Election, the Tribe and the Task Force will no longer have any control in the process. Rather, the process will be driven in accordance with the rules and procedures outlined in the United States, Code of Federal Regulations. There are several things members should know and be prepared for regarding this process.
•Update Your Membership
Records If you want to participate in the Secretarial Election, it is critical that you visit the GRIC Enrollment Department to update your mailing address. The BIA will obtain a list of all Community members 18 years of age or older as well as those 17 years old who will turn 18 as of the date of the Secretarial Election from the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) Enrollment Department along with their last known address on file. Using this list, the BIA will send information to Community members about the election; how to register and how to vote via absentee ballot.
•Read the Mailings from the BIA
Please pay close attention to the details. The BIA will send you all of the information about the Secretarial Election, such as: the date of the election; the registration dates; how to request an absentee ballot; and, things of that nature. Compliance with all the deadlines will ensure that you get to vote in the election.
•Register to Vote and then Vote
This registration process is separate from registering to vote in the tribal elections. There will be a registration process and a deadline to register to vote. You will need to register for the Secretarial Election, even if you are already registered to vote in a tribal election. The Secretarial Election is a federal election and is not governed by tribal law. Once you register, it is very important to the success of the Secretarial Election that you actually cast your vote. The Secretarial Election requires that at least 30% of those who register to vote in the Secretarial Election actually cast their vote in order for the results to be valid. Stated another way, even if the votes support amendment, the vote will not be successful if at less than 30% of those who registered to vote participate in the election.
The 1990 Example: In the1990 Secretarial Election to revise the GRIC Constitution 434 members registered to vote. Only 103 cast their votes with 68 voting to amend the constitution and 35 voting to oppose the revision. Even though more people voted to support the amendments only 23% of those who registered to vote in the election actually voted, so the attempt failed. In order for the 1990 election to be valid, 130 voters would have needed to participate in the election. The 1990 example tells us that if you register to vote, it is very important that you actually participate in the election. Voting in a secretarial election is a two step process: registration and voting!
• Vote YES or NO on the Entire Document
It will be a simple YES or NO vote on the proposed draft as a whole. In the process, the Task Force has heard rumors about how the changes will be voted upon. The Task Force requested and received communication from the BIA that indicates that there will be one vote …. YES or a NO to the ENTIRE DOCUMENT. GRIC voters will not be given an opportunity to accept some of the changes and reject others.
•Consider the Changes in General
Consider the changes in entirety not in sections. Because it will be one YES or NO vote on the entire document, it is important that voters determine whether they support the changes as a whole as opposed to whether they support or oppose any particular section or change. It is also important that voters consider the concepts proposed in the changes and not be influenced by the individuals currently holding office.
This project will not be a success without the participation of the membership. Currently, the draft is pending before the Legislative Standing Committee and the Government & Management Standing Committee. The draft was presented to the Committees and direction was given to the Law Office and Task Force to conduct additional research on recommendations made. The research was completed and the draft will be represented following recommendations for changes.
For further information on the project, please contact project staff Gerald Calnimptewa, (520) 562-9757, Gerald.Calnimptewa@ gric.nsn.us or Joanne Miles-Long, (520) 562-9759, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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