OKMULGEE, Oklahoma – Muscogee (Creek) Nation Election Board has set the dates for this year’s election that will include National Council District Representative Seat A along with the Office of Principal Chief and Second Chief.
Primary Elections will be held on September 16 with polls open for early voting on Sept 13 and 14.
The General Elections are set for Nov. 4, polls will be open for early voters on Nov 1 and 2.
According to the Manager Nelson Harjo Jr. dates are chosen based on what the code has outlined for election season. Depending on the election tier, it may say “the third Saturday in September” for reference.
Registered voters may have received an absentee ballot request form in the mail from the Election Board. Harjo said these forms are due on August 23. Within the first week, around 100 were mailed back.
Absentee voter forms allow voters to cast their vote by mail for those who return the request form. Ballots are received in the mail with a pre-paid postage envelope to mail the ballot back.
Voters remain anonymous.
In the most recent election, absentee votes were missed.
“That was a laundry list of issues that were beyond our control and beyond the Nation’s control,” Harjo said.
The United Postal Service had a nationwide problem with mail delivery due to COVID.
To get ahead of this potential situation, the MCN Election Board has invested in priority postage for absentee ballots that will be mailed the next day.
“It’s a lot more expensive but we believe it’s worth it,” Harjo said.
Typically, the voter turnout is higher during chief elections, Harjo claims. Voter turnout remains a problem, not only within the tribe but throughout the Nation.
“This has always been a problem our tribe has had,” Harjo said. “It’s an ongoing battle.”
Only about 20 percent of Mvskoke citizens are registered to vote.
“If you don’t exercise this right, eventually you may not have it,” Harjo said.
Harjo encourages citizens to vote. He said it helps elected officials understand the need to listen to citizens.
The total number of registered voters for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation is 18,003 as of 2/1/2023.
For more information, call the Election Board at 918-732-7631 or visit https://www.muscogeenation.com/election-board/.
