Clarification on 2024 Referendum Results

AKWESASNE – The Election Board certified the Ohiarí:ha/June 1, 2024 Tribal Election and Referendum results on Ohiarí:ha/June 7, 2024 and Pursuant to TCR 2024-12, a referendum was held and the Election Board would like to clarify the results with the community.

Referendum Question 1: Do you approve of eliminating the requirement of having people present at caucus to accept nomination?

Referendum Question 2: Do you approve of having a set date for the annual caucus being the third Saturday in April?

Referendum Question 3: Do you approve of eliminating write-in candidates?

Referendum Question 4: Only if you voted yes above (to Referendum Question 3), please answer the following: If there is only one candidate who is nominated and qualified should that person be declared the Acclaimed winner without voting? This person would be vetted to ensure they met the requirements of the nominated position, but whose name would not appear on the ballot.

Referendum Question 1 failed with 375 “no” votes and 236 “yes” votes. This concludes any/all persons interested in running for a position still needs to be present at caucus to accept the nomination.

Referendum Question 2 passed with 528 “yes” votes and 70 “no” votes. The annual caucus will be the third Saturday in April.

Overwhelmingly, Referendum Question 3 failed; the Community voted “no” to eliminating write-in candidates. The result of Referendum Question 3 had 248 “yes” votes and 357 “no” votes.

Based upon the TCR 2024-12, there should have only been 248 votes cast for Referendum Question 4. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Election Board finds Referendum Question 4 is nullified, with the majority of votes concerning Referendum Question 3 being voted “no”.

Referendum Question 4 had 224 “yes” votes of having an Acclaimed Winner; 188 voting “no” and 206 ballots voided. The number of votes over the expected 248; those who voted yes on Referendum Question 3, reflected the confusion of Referendum Question 4’s opening statement of “only if you answered yes to the previous question”. Therefore, in any future election, if there is one (1) nominee for a position, the nominee will be on the ballot that will still include the option for a Write-in Candidate.

Due to the nature of the referendum questions, it would be an impossibility to allow write-in candidates to continue while allowing Acclaimed Winners since only a write-in candidate’s ballots would be counted and the Acclaimed Winner not appearing on the ballot.

The only change to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Election Board Ordinance, approved by the community, is having a set date for the annual caucus being the third Saturday in April.

Should there be any questions or concerns, the board can be contacted at:

[email protected]