Voting Day: Northern Cheyenne Tribal Primary Election for President, Vice President, and Five Council Seats
Chloe Ortega: Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council Public Information Officer & Web Designer | October 4th, 2024
Lame Deer District voting center. Image credit: Chloe Ortega | Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council Public Information Officer & Web Designer
Thursday, October 3rd, 2024, was the Northern Cheyenne primary election voting day, downtown Lame Deer, Montana, was buzzing with energy from candidates and hopeful write-in candidates campaigning in full swing. Early in the morning, some candidates and hopefuls began setting up their stations, serving breakfast to the community to foster connections and encourage participation.
As lunchtime arrived, the downtown area came alive with all the candidates showcasing their platforms and engaging with voters. Campaigning efforts continued well into the evening, with some candidates inviting the community to enjoy a meal at their residences, further strengthening bonds and dialogue between leaders and voters.
Polls opened for voting beginning at 9:00 am to 7:00 pm in all designated districts. These included the Ashland Community Hall, Birney Community Hall, Northern Cheyenne Tribal School Gymnasium, Little Wolf Capitol Building – Tribal Council Chambers and Muddy Community Hall.
The Northern Cheyenne community had the chance to vote for the open positions including Tribal President, Tribal Vice President, and one available Tribal Council Seat for the Ashland District, Birney District, Busby District, Lame Deer District, and Muddy District.
After the polls closed at 7:00 PM, the dedicated teams representing their respective districts commenced the important task of counting the votes. This meticulous process extended well into the early hours of the morning, and at 2:41 AM, Tribal Secretary Edina Ontiveros RedStar formally announced the reservation-wide results of the election.
Reservation Wide results of the Northern Cheyenne Primary Election. Image credit: Tribal Secretary Edina Ontiveros RedStar
Reservation Wide results of the Northern Cheyenne Primary Election. Image credit: Tribal Secretary Edina Ontiveros RedStar
We extend our sincere gratitude to all those who played a vital role in this electoral process, including those who participated in campaigning, every individual who cast their votes, and everyone who assisted in the various aspects of the voting and counting process. Additionally, we acknowledge the community members who offered their support to the candidates in any capacity.
Congratulations to the two candidates who have successfully advanced in the general election, and we look forward to hearing your mission statements and aspirations for the future. The general election is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024.