Election service could lose UKB contract, retains others
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Despite some negative attention for its involvement in the Cherokee Nation’s still-contested general election, Automated Election Services has not lost any contracts with Oklahoma tribes so far.
Based out of Rio Rancho, N.M., Automated Election Services contracts with about 70 tribes around the country to provide voting machines, precinct worker training, ballots, technical support and canvassing assistance during elections. The company also was involved in the tribe’s 2003 and 2007 elections.
Along with the Cherokee Nation’s election, the company has had contracts with several Oklahoma tribes within the last year, including the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe, the Chickasaw Nation and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
The Chickasaw Nation’s general election is scheduled for July 26. In an e-mailed statement, the election commission secretary for the Ada, Okla.-based tribe praised the company for its work with previous Chickasaw elections.
“We take great care to ensure our elections are conducted with the highest level of integrity,” wrote Rita Loder. “Automated Election Services has provided reliable election services for the Chickasaw Nation for more than 15 years. We have designed our entire election process to ensure it meets all expectations for fairness and accountability.”
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s primary election is scheduled for Sept. 17. The candidates’ filing period opens Monday in Okmulgee, Okla.
On Tuesday, Ken Bellmard, the attorney general of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, issued an advisory opinion discouraging the tribe from contracting with AES or its president, Terry Rainey, in future elections. Bellmard’s statement was the first from any Oklahoma tribe about the contractor.
Rainey has come under scrutiny for testifying he entered the Cherokee Nation Election Commission’s vault twice between the completion of the initial vote count on June 26 and the certification of the count the following day. He has also testified that during the original canvassing, 20 of the 22 votes added to Smith’s count in the initial certification came from a misread hand tally sheet that he reviewed.
“I’ve read attorney general Bellmard’s opinion and have to agree,” said Bryan Shade, the United Keetoowah Band’s executive director of tribal operations. “The integrity of our election process is of the utmost importance. We want to ensure that our elections are fair and that the voice of our people is heard. The cloud of doubt cast around the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma’s election makes it virtually impossible for us to utilize the same vendors without having that same cloud of doubt.”
During a special meeting Tuesday afternoon, the Cherokee Nation’s tribal council considered requesting the tribe’s election commission exclude AES from consideration when bringing in a third party to observe its run-off election, scheduled for Saturday, as well as any special elections necessitated by the run-off or the still undetermined principal chief’s race.
Introduced by councilwoman Tina Glory-Jordan of Hulbert, Okla., the resolution failed, in part due to advice from council attorney Todd Hembree that the proposal could be construed as interfering with the Election Commission, which violates the tribe’s constitution.