WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) – The name of a disqualified Navajo presidential candidate will remain on the ballot, and the election will proceed as planned Nov. 4.

The Navajo Board of Election Supervisors met Monday and voted 7-1 in favor of holding the elections as scheduled and keeping Chris Deschene (des-CHEE’-nee) on the ballot.

Last week, a tribal hearing officer disqualified Deschene as a candidate after he refused to demonstrate whether he is fluent in Navajo, as required by tribal law. Two of Deschene’s primary opponents filed grievances over what they say is his lack of fluency.

Deschene says he’s proficient in the language and is being singled out.

Deschene has vowed to appeal to the Navajo Supreme Court. If he loses, the third-place finisher in the primary election would face Joe Shirley Jr.