ELE.1.5.010 Caucus

(a) The Caucus shall be held on the date specified in ELE.1.4.010(k). At the Caucus, the Tribal Governing Board shall receive nominations of eligible members of the Tribe for vacancies on the Tribal Governing Board and General Election which shall be held on the date specified in ELE.1.4.010(k). Also, at the Caucus, the nomination and election of the Election Committee and Election Observers shall take place.

(b) Upon arrival to the location designated by the Tribal Governing Board to hold the Election Caucus, tribal members shall sign the check-in sheet verifying the enrollment status and eligibility to participate in the caucus.

(c) Meeting Order of Business and Procedures.

(1) Chairman calls the meeting to order and roll call.

(2) Nominations for Tribal Governing Board.

(A) Floor opened for nominations of eligible members of the Tribe for election by tribal members who are eighteen (18) years of age or older.

(i) Present name of nominator.

(ii) Nominator names nominee.

(B) Chairman calls three (3) times for any additional nominees before floor is closed for additional nominations.

(C) Names of nominees are placed in a "hat" and drawn out for numeral order on the voting ballot. If a nominee withdraws, then the remainder of nominees shall move up in that order.

(3) Election of Election Committee.

(A) For the Caucus held in 2023, four (4) Election Committee Members shall be elected to serve a four (4) year term and three (3) Committee Members shall serve a one-time two-year term, with the four highest vote getters serving the four (4) year term and the other candidate serving two-year term. The highest four vote getters will receive the four-year terms, with the remaining candidates receiving the two-year term. Thereafter, all Election Committee Members shall serve four-year terms. Consequently, beginning in 2025, election of the Election Committee Members shall occur every two years, the number of which shall coincide with the number of outgoing Election Committee members.

(B) Floor opens for nominations to fill positions on the Election Committee.

(i) Present name of nominator.

(ii) Nominator names nominee.

(C) Chairman calls three (3) times for any additional nominees before floor is closed for additional nominations.

(D) Election Committee Members shall pass out ballots to all enrolled tribal members present who are eighteen (18) years of age or older.

(E) Only votes for the upcoming vacancies are allowed per ballot. If for any reason the ballot contains more votes per ballot, then such ballot shall be considered "spoiled" and cast out.

(F) The ballots shall be collected.

(G) The ballots shall be counted and cross referenced with the sign-in sheet to estimate numbers.

(i) Ballots shall be tallied and marked on display chart.

(ii) The top vote getters are seated on Election Committee for four-year terms, except as otherwise provided in ELE.1.5.010(c)(3)(A).

(H) Two (2) next highest vote getters are designated as alternates.

(4) Election of Observers. Election Committee Members shall pass out ballots to all enrolled tribal members present.

(A) The number of Observers for an election is the same number of offices to be filled in the election, i.e., three (3) or four (4). If for any reason the ballot contains more than three (3) or four (4) votes per ballot, the ballot shall be considered "spoiled" and cast out.

(B) The ballots shall be collected.

(C) The ballots shall be counted and cross referenced with the sign-in sheet to estimate numbers.

(i) Ballots shall be tallied and marked on display chart.

(ii) Three (3) or Four (4) top vote getters are seated as Election Observers.

(iii) Two (2) next highest vote getters are designated as alternates.

(5) Chairman adjourns the caucus.