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Whalen waiting for Election Commission decision on his challenge





PINE RIDGE –– Bruce Whalen, a candidate for the Pine Ridge presidency, filed a petition challenging the Primary Election results when some voters in the Oglala District were not able to cast their votes due to a shortage in Voters Cards.

“Uniformity is crucial in tribal elections some districts were required to show identification while others were not,” Whalen said.

“This caused some confusion to voters especially not having that documentation present at the time they cast their ballots. Some ballots had misprints on them and the polls in Billy Mills were not opened on schedule due to cleaning of the building. Since 1997 council representatives were suppose to count the voters in their district to eliminate voters from voting in the wrong districts but that process has not been completed yet.”

Whalen has filed a notarized complaint to the Election Commission and is currently awaiting the results. Upon doing so, Whalen was told that the Attorney for the Election Commission was on vacation and was the deciding authority on the matter.

“My strategy is that if my voice is not heard with the Commission Attorney I will appeal to the Supreme Court,” stated Whalen, “where I may need additional evidence.”

They should have voting on the reservation coincide with State and Federal elections to make things fair. It is a form of voter suppression, stated Whalen, because there are no clear rules in voting. There is no confidence that who they voted for will actually win. We feel violated as candidates and the people feel violated as well.”



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