Press Release - 2023 SCIT General Election Results
11/8/2023 7:23:00 AM - Public Relations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: November 7, 2023

CONTACT:  Erik Rodriguez, Interim Public Relations Director

                       Call 989-775-4059

On Tuesday, November 7, 2023 the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe (SCIT) held the 2023 General Election. The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal community has elected its newest Tribal Council for the 2023-2025 two-year term. District 1 members had the opportunity to select ten representatives, District 2 members selected one representative and District 3 also selected one representative. Voter participation for the 2023 General Election reached a combined 39.58%. Please see the attached results sheet for complete details on the 2023 Tribal Council General Election.

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe is comprised of three districts that account for the total registered voting membership of 2,150. This accounts for 78.26% of the possible 2,747 members who had an ability to register to vote. The District 1 voting boundaries encompass all of Isabella County. There are a total of 1,133 registered voters. District 1 had 1,344 members who were eligible to register to cast a ballot. Voter participation in the 2023 District 1 General Election totaled 574 members and reflected a 50.66% turnout.

District 2 voting boundaries are within the Saganing Reservation in Arenac County and had 39 registered voters. There are currently 48 members that were eligible to register to vote in District 2. Voter participation in the 2023 District 2 General Election totaled 11 members and reflected a 28.20% turnout. Finally, District 3, or the At-Large district, are those members who are reflective of the remaining tribal membership that live outside either of the boundaries of District 1 or 2. These members account for the remaining 978 registered voters. District 3 had a total of 1,355 members who were eligible to register to vote. Voter participation in the 2023 District 3 General Election totaled 266 members and reflected a 27.20% turnout.

The newly elected Tribal Council of twelve will be sworn in during the Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Regular Session Meeting. This schedule is preliminary, allowing for any election protest in accordance with Tribal Law. The Election Caucus Committee has reviewed and certified the results of the General Election for 2023. 

By ordinance, any Candidate for office or voter in the election may protest the results, and only for the voting district in which such voter or candidate is registered, within three (3) business days of the General Election. The election protest deadline is Monday, November 13, 2023 by 5:00 p.m. By ordinance, any Tribal member voting in the election may contest a ballot count within seven (7) calendar days of the General Election with a deadline of Wednesday, November 15, 2023 by 5:00 p.m. in the district which they are a registered voter. The Caucus Committee has the right to review and determine whether another count is necessary.    

Please contact Erik Rodriguez, Public Relations Manager, at (989) 775-4059 or at erodriguez@sagchip.org for more information on the announcement.   

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