Osage News Election Polls show trends in voting

If you put stock in online polls, which I don’t, but if you do then the three online Osage News Election Polls published throughout the month of May will show you four candidates who have continuously gotten in the top six.

They are Jim Ryan, Matthew Shunkamolah, Nicki Revard Lorenzo and John F. Maker.

Online polls are tricky, because they are not scientific – at all. People must remember there is no mechanism to make sure registered tribal members voted, or a mechanism to guarantee a person didn’t vote multiple times. But, they are fun and a lot of Osages did vote. If nothing else, it spurred good conversation about the upcoming election Monday and might have given Osages something to think about as they watch candidate’s campaigns unfold.

The first poll, published May 2, with a total of 1,091 people voting, had a tie. The winners were:

Jim Ryan – 238 votes
RJ Walker – 218 votes
Matthew Shunkamolah – 218 votes
Nicki Revard Lorenzo – 197 votes
Bill Mashunkashey – 179 votes
John Jech – 178 votes

Seventh place went to Jerri Jean Branstetter with 168 votes.

The second poll, published May 13, with a total of 1,078 people voting, went to:

Matthew Shunkamolah – 317 votes
Jim Ryan – 307 votes
Nicki Revard Lorenzo – 300 votes
Jerri Jean Branstetter – 289 votes
Mark Simms – 242 votes
John F. Maker – 214 votes

Seventh place went to RJ Walker with 100 votes.

The third and final poll, published May 28, with a total of 634 people voting, went to:

Matthew Shunkamolah – 177 votes
Jim Ryan – 167 votes
Nicki Revard Lorenzo – 164 votes
Jerri Jean Branstetter – 159 votes
Mark Simms – 138 votes
John Maker – 121 votes

Seventh place went to Becky M. Johnson with 96 votes.

The Osage News is going to leave the third poll up until June 5, the day after the election.

Make sure and exercise your civil liberties and vote for your favorite Osage candidate on Monday. The polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., located in the Osage Nation Congressional Chambers. The first 20 voters receive a free turquoise t-shirt, complete with ribbon work, from the Osage Nation Election Board.

The Osage News will be publishing stories and blogs all day Election Day, photos on Flickr, tweeting the latest developments and publishing the winners as soon as they’re announced. Stay tuned to the Osage News Facebook page and subscribe to our Twitter feed @OsageNews to get the election results as they’re announced. Video will be posted the day after the election on osagenews.org.