Registered voter list released; Tribal membership voting on 12 constitutional amendments Sept. 30

Observer Staff

11/5/2003 12:00:00 AM

Saginaw Chippewa voters head to the polls Sept. 30 to determine the fate of 12 amendments related to the Tribal Constitution.

To be eligible to vote in the Bureau of Indian Affairs-run election, Tribal members needed to register with the federal agency. According to voter registration lists posted in various locations at Tribal Operations, 1,426 members are able to participate.

The election will be conducted in accordance with federal regulations and the Tribe's Constitution. The two polling places include the Saginaw Chippewa Police Department in Mt. Pleasant and the Saganing Outreach Center in Standish. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Of the 1,426 registered voters, 542 are from District 1, 36 in District 2 and 848 in District 3.

The Sept. 30 election follows the mandate set forth in the March 25 decision issued by U.S. District Court Judge David M. Lawson of the Eastern District of Michigan's Northern Division.

The last day to challenge names or the absence of them on the registered voter list is Sept. 19, with decisions on these possible appeals being made 10 days before the election and a corrected registered voter list being posted.