Early voting heavy in tribal election

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — With a historic presidential election taking place at the national level, interest even in local elections has been sparked.

“If this is an indication — the early voting, how many are turning out — if that’s an indication, it looks like we’ll have a record turnout,” Edison Wauneka, director of the Navajo Election Administration, said Friday.

Friday afternoon at least 10 people waited to vote early for the Navajo Nation election at the NEA. Two men and one woman from Fort Defiance were there so they wouldn’t have to stand in line on Tuesday.

“We have the most we ever had,” Wauneka said about the early voters. “It caught us by surprise.”

Usually, the chapter elections do not draw a high turnout, but the voter turnout passed the 50 percent mark during the last chapter election in 2004. The change was that a tribal law had been passed to hold the Navajo Nation general election, which used to be in August, at the same time as the county and federal general election.

“We think it’s making a difference,” Wauneka said. “It makes it easier for voters to take care of their voter responsibility in one day. It makes it a lot easier for them.”
Many people coming in for early voting have asked about voting for president, he added. Those voters are referred to the appropriate county.

Navajo voters must register and vote separately with the NEA for the Navajo tribal elections and with the county for the county, state and federal elections. It can cause confusion for some voters, Wauneka said, but the tribal elections are typically held at the local chapter houses.

Wauneka urged the Navajo people to find out where their voting precincts for the county are to vote. While some are also located at the chapter house, some of the polling places are not and people need to be aware of where those are.

“We feel both elections are important,” he said.
The tribal elections are being held for chapter officers, grazing committee members, land board members, farm board members, school board members, and in Kayenta, township commissioners. Three chapters, including Tuba City, Shonto and Nahata Dziil, will hold elections for their alternative governance.

Wauneka also wanted to remind chapter officers to help make sure the polls are open on time by being there to open the chapter houses for the poll officials, especially because some people come in before work to vote.
Polls for the tribal elections are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
There are more than 114,000 registered voters on Navajo, Wauneka said.