Red Lake Band Amends Election Procedures

Red Lake amends May 20 election procedures, will include absentee voting for all, curbside voting and more. Rules for voting in person, only 3 allowed at once. Addresses both on and off Reservation.

AMENDED

NOTICE OF ELECTION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. 27-2020

TO ELECT FOUR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM, ONE EACH FROM THE PONEMAH, REDBY, RED LAKE AND LITTLE ROCK DISTRICTS OR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS DULY ELECTED, TO THE RED LAKE TRIBAL COUNCIL, RED LAKE BAND OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS; AND TO VOTE ON ANY ADVISORY VOTE SUBMITTED BY THE RED LAKE TRIBAL COUNCIL.

TO: MEMBERS OF THE RED LAKE BAND OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS

Notice is hereby given of an election to be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 to elect four District Representatives for a four-year term, one from Ponemah District, one from Redby District, one from Red Lake District and one from Little Rock District.

The Advisory vote question shall be placed on the ballot for the May 20, 2020 election "Shall the Tribal Council authorize the production, regulation, and distribution of medical marijuana on the Red Lake Reservation?"

This announcement is made in accordance with Article V of the Revised Constitution and By-Laws of the Red Lake Band and Chapter 1800 of the Tribal Code as revised in Resolution No. 1-12 of January 10, 2012. The incumbents are: Glenda Martin, Ponemah District Representative; Allen Pemberton, Redby District Representative; Robert Smith, Red Lake District Representative and Michelle (Barrett) Cobenais, Little Rock District Representative.

Any enrolled member of the Red Lake Band 18 years of age and over on Election Day shall be entitled to vote in this election.

DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, the Secretary's representative (AES Services, P.O. Box 44607, Rio Rancho, NM. 57174) of the Tribal Council furnished a form to be used in requesting a ballot to each voter whose address is known with this election announcement. Requesting an absentee ballot will NOT change your residency. Absentee voting will be the preferred method to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Upon request to the Secretary of the Tribal Council, or his authorized Representative, provided such request is signed by the voter to whom the ballot is issued. The absentee ballot must be

received on or before 8:00 p.m. on the election date. Such form will require that applicants for ballots sign the form, and give their former district residence on the reservation.

The request for an absentee ballot must be received by the Absentee Ballot Committee, or the Secretary's representative by May 13, 2020 in order to be mailed in a timely manner. The ballot will then be sent to addressee only.

Pursuant and in accordance with Section 1806.11, subd. 2 of the Election Ordinance, the Absentee Ballot Committee shall make itself available two days before the election in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the purpose of distributing and accepting absentee ballots from non-resident voters who are unable to mail or submit, in person, their absentee ballots for whatever reason. Members of the Absentee Ballot Committee will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, May 18, 2020, at the following location:

RED LAKE NATION EMBASSY

2929 BLOOMINGTON AVE

MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55407

DUE TO PANDEMIC concerns and Quarantine Resolution No. 78-2020, it is necessary to amend the Chapter 1800 regarding the election rules and regulations to prevent exposure and spread of COVID-19 during the election process. The following Sections have changed to encourage Absentee Voting for all voters, not just nonresident voters, and permit voters to access polling sites with curbside voting and limit the number of voters at the polls at any given time:

1801.03 Rules and Regulations of the General Election Board

Subdivision 2. In times of pandemic, the Tribal Council may create additional rules and regulations for the General Election Board to conduct Tribal elections for the safety of the community. These regulations may be posted up to 30 days before the election.

1801.05 Absentee Ballot Committee

Subdivision 2. It shall be the duty of the Absentee Ballot Committee member to permit absentee ballots to be cast at the Government Center, and be present at approved off Reservation sites for the casting of votes by absentee ballots, and to turn such ballots over to the General Election Board in a timely fashion.

1805.01 Reservation Voting District Places and Hours-Notice

Reservation district voting places will be open between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and at the specified locations as follows:

Red Lake Community Center

Redby Community Center

Little Rock Community Center

Ponemah Community Center

Tribal members may cast their absentee ballots at the Red Lake Nation Embassy between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. in accordance with 1806.11, subd. 2.

1805.02 Manner of Voting Generally

Subdivision 4. In times of pandemic, curbside voting will be offered to every voter and but if in-person voting is chosen, only three voters will be allowed to cast their votes at one time at the polls. Social distancing and hygiene practices will be strictly followed at the polls.

1805.03 Voting by Person with Physical Disabilities or Language Barriers

Subdivision 3. Voters who self-identify as ill or look visibly ill, will be allowed to vote curbside at the polls.

1806.01 Allowance of absentee voting

Subdivision 2. In times of pandemic, absentee voting will be the preferred method of voting to prevent illness and stop contagion. Voters are strongly encouraged to use Absentee voting whether reservation residents or otherwise.

1806.02 Requests for absentee ballots generally

Subdivision 3. In times of pandemic, the Secretary's representative of the Tribal Council will send a form to be used in requesting a ballot to each voter whose address is known with an election announcement.

1806.03 Time For Filing of Requests for Absentee Ballots-Furnishing of Ballots Generally

Subdivision 2. In times of pandemic, absentee ballots shall be furnished to all eligible voters upon request to the Secretary of the Tribal Council, or his authorized Representative, provided such request is signed by the voter to whom the ballot is issued. The absentee ballot must be received on or before 8:00 p.m. on the election date.

1806.09 Return of Ballots

Subdivision 3. In times of pandemic, all absentee ballots must be returned to the Secretary, Tribal Council, or authorized Representative, P.O. Box 544, Red Lake, Minnesota 56671, in a numbered envelope provided for the purpose and shall also bear the stamped inscription "ABSENTEE BALLOT."

1806.11 Absentee Voting in Person

Subdivision 4. In times of pandemic, after at least five (5) days following the posting of certified, duly filed and eligible candidates, voters may request to vote absentee, who personally appear with the Absentee Ballot Committee location, may vote by signing for and casting their ballots then and there, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Voting in this manner does not change their resident status.

Dated: April 14, 2020

DARRELL G. SEKI, SR., CHAIRMAN SAMUEL STRONG, SECRETARY

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

14 Candidates File for 4 Red Lake Reservation District Representative Seats - https://www.redlakenationnews.com/story/2020/03/23/politics/14-candidates-file-for-4-red-lake-reservation-district-representative-seats/87634.html