The election is needed after the Wednesday evening resignation of now former Pawnee Business Committee president Misty Nuttle.

PAWNEE, Okla. – Pawnee Nation voters will start 2016 at the polls.

On Monday, the Pawnee Nation Election Commission released the timeline for the tribe’s Jan. 2, 2016, special election for president.           

Candidates may file for office from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 18-21 at the Pawnee Nation Community Building. Absentee ballot requests must be received by Dec. 13.

Election day voting will be available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the tribe’s multi-purpose building. Inauguration is scheduled for Jan. 16.

The election is needed after the Wednesday evening resignation of now former Pawnee Business Committee president Misty Nuttle. Nuttle cited family concerns in her resignation statement, but was arrested by law enforcement agencies in both Skiatook and Pawnee in the days prior to her leaving office. As of Monday, no court date has been scheduled in connection with either arrest. 

In the interim, Pawnee Business Committee Vice President Bruce Pratt has assumed the duties of president.