Voter registration files for almost 3,000 tribal citizens are now considered incomplete.

CONCHO, Okla. – A technical glitch has a divided Oklahoma tribe’s election commission scrambling to keep several thousand citizens from being disenfranchised.

On July 25, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes’ Election Board announced that thanks to a change in election software, the voter registration files for almost 3,000 tribal citizens are now considered incomplete. Those individuals will have to re-register to vote by Aug. 15 in order to participate in this year’s elections.

A full list of affected voters is available online at www.c-a-tribes.org/election-commission or through the constitutionally-bound tribes’ Facebook page. The election board can be reached during normal business hours at 405-422-7619.

The primary election is scheduled for Oct. 8 and the general election is scheduled for Nov. 5. Along with four legislative positions, the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are up this year.

Due to an ongoing leadership dispute within the tribe, the Bureau of Indian Affairs announced earlier this year that it would monitor the election and provide technical assistance after receiving written requests from both factions of the divided government. Despite the announcement coming down in May, no additional logistical information has been publicly disclosed since.

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Election Board did not return calls seeking comment or additional information.