TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — A judge has ruled the Cherokee Nation can move forward with its new 15 voting districts.

Cherokee Nation District Court Judge Bart Fite ruled Wednesday that a vote made by the majority of Tribal Council members last July to move from five voting districts to 15 districts is constitutional.

The new districts will start with upcoming June 22 council elections.

The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council consists of 17 elected positions with staggered four-year terms. Beginning with the 2013 election, there will be one council member now serving each of the 15 districts. Currently, three members serve per district. Two at-large council seats will experience no change.

"I’m pleased by the ruling and not surprised that the court found the legislative body has completed the redistricting function timely and correctly,” Cherokee Nation Tribal Council Speaker Tina Glory-Jordan said. “A majority of the Tribal Council has always believed the redistricting work was and is constitutional.  Now that the court has confirmed the act and map as constitutional, we look forward to the election commission moving forward with the 2013 elections."

Two separate lawsuits over redistricting were filed in court since September. Anglen et. al vs. Cherokee Nation was filed by five Tribal Council members opposing the 15 districts. It was dismissed earlier this month. The plaintiffs were allowed to enter an opposition opinion for the judge to weigh in his decision.

The other lawsuit was the basis for the judge’s ruling. It was filed on behalf of the majority of Tribal Council members asking the judge to rule on whether its redistricting vote in July followed the legal channels within the Cherokee Nation Constitution.

Nine Tribal Council seats are up for election this year. March 4-7 is the filing period.

Many Cherokee citizens will have new voting districts. For boundary maps, citizens should check with the Cherokee Nation Election Commission at 918-458-5899 or visit http://www.cherokee.org/OurGovernment/Commissions/Election/Default.aspx