Speaker Thomas Yahola, the measure’s sponsor and one of the five candidates for principal chief, said he would sign the resolution Wednesday morning, then send it immediately to Principal Chief George Tiger’s office. Upon receipt, the executive branch has 10 days to act on the measure.

OKMULGEE, Okla. – Less than two weeks before its primary, an Oklahoma tribe is inviting the Carter Center to  monitor its 2015 elections.

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council voted 9-6 Tuesday night in an emergency session to invite the Atlanta-based organization, drawing applause from the candidates and voters in the audience.

The tribe’s primary election for principal chief and seven legislative seats is scheduled for Sept. 19. Its general election is Nov. 7.

“It’s not going to hurt anything at all,” said Alvin Bucktrot, a Tulsa District National Council candidate. “Yeah, it’s late, but it ain’t going to hurt anything. Those of you who are against it and said you talked to your constituents, that’s great, but if you dig a little deeper in the districts, there’s a lot of distrust.”           

Along with the potential for non-partisan suggestions for procedural improvements, several of the concerns specifically cited by tribal citizens and council members Tuesday night were related to absentee ballots, including anecdotes of dead voters’ ballots being counted in previous elections.

Speaking before the National Council, Election Board Chairwoman Diane Meeker confirmed that thanks to changes at the local post office, the board has had to tweak its procedures for absentee ballot storage. Instead of picking all ballots up on election day from the board’s post office box, they are instead having to make regular trips to empty out the box, then place them under lock and key at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Office.

After Tuesday night’s session, Speaker Thomas Yahola, the measure’s sponsor and one of the five candidates for principal chief, said he would sign the resolution Wednesday morning, then send it immediately to Principal Chief George Tiger’s office. Upon receipt, the executive branch has 10 days to act on the measure.

“Even if it’s not acted on in time for the primary election, we can still get the Carter Center in here for the general election in November,” Yahola said.

With the tribe potentially facing a multi-million dollar budget shortfall for fiscal year 2016, both council members and candidates were quick to point out that the tribe would not have pay to bring in the non-profit organization.

To date, the only U.S.-based elections observed by the Carter Center were conducted by the Cherokee Nation in 1999 and 2011.

The 2011 Cherokee Nation election and the 2015 Muscogee (Creek) Nation election have a factor in common. The Cherokee used Automated Election Services, the same contractor currently being used by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The New Mexico based firm advertises comprehensive service to tribal election boards and has previously worked with the MCN, as well as several other Oklahoma tribes.