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Content about Osage Nation Election Board

January 23, 2013
ON Election Office seeking voter input on election process

Questionnaires mailed out to voters; Election process hearing scheduled Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Pawhuska

The Osage Nation Election Office is seeking voter input on the tribal election process as it considers possible amendments to the election law.

The ON Election Board is mailing a questionnaire to 12,000-plus Osage voters with 19 questions regarding demographics, absentee ballots, and asks for suggestions on how to improve the voting process. The questionnaire was mailed out Jan. 18.

June 11, 2012
ON Election Board certifies 2012 General Election results

This year’s election turnout less than 2010’s election by approximately 500 voters

The 2012 General Election results are certified with four first-time Osage Nation Congressional members and two re-elected incumbents to serve on the Third ON Congress.

The ON Election Board unanimously certified the results of the June 4 election during its June 8 meeting. The board did not receive any public challenges of the results and did not count provisional ballots toward the unofficial results, so those numbers will stand.

June 4, 2012
2012 Osage General Election Winners

Unofficial results; all proposed seven amendments to the Osage Constitution failed

The unofficial winners of the 2012 Osage General Election are:

1) RJ Walker - 607 votes - 32.86 percent
2) John F. Maker – 601 votes – 32.53 percent
3) Archie L. Mason – 587 votes – 31.78 percent
4) Shannon Love Edwards – 584 votes – 31.61 percent
5) Maria Whitehorn – 506 votes – 27.39 percent
6) John Jech – 487 votes – 26.36 percent

June 1, 2012
Guide to June 4 Election Day

Election Day is Monday and Osages will be deciding who will be the next six members on the Third Osage Nation Congress

Election Day is Monday and Osages will be deciding who will be the next six members on the Third Osage Nation Congress.

On the ballot for the Osage General Election June 4 will be 34 candidates and seven possible amendments to the Osage Nation Constitution.

The poll opens at 8 a.m. and is located at the Osage Nation Congressional Chambers and closes at 8 p.m. The results of the election will be announced that evening.

May 29, 2012
Candidates fined for campaign violations

Six candidates failed to turn in Campaign Reporting Statements by May 18 deadline

The Osage Nation Election Board issued more than 20 fines to candidates in the last month, with some candidates receiving two or more.

Most of the fines are due to a little known rule buried within the election board’s 19-page rules and regulations, which every candidate received upon registering.

March 1, 2012
Town Halls discuss upcoming General and Special Elections

General Election scheduled for June 4; Special Election scheduled for Aug. 13

Osages are being asked to visit the poll twice this year.

The General Election, scheduled for Monday, June 4, is for six seats on the Third Osage Nation Congress and seven proposed amendments to the Osage Constitution.

However, many Osages at a Feb. 28 Grayhorse Town Hall meeting didn’t know there is going to be a Special Election Aug. 13. The Special Election is for four amendments to the Osage Constitution regarding the Osage Minerals Estate.

September 7, 2011
Election Code changes to be considered by the Second ON Congress

Code changes include a primary election for Chief and Assistant Chief and staggering terms for the Election board

The Osage Nation Election Board is considering amendments to the election code, which could be considered by the Second ON Congress in the Tzi-Zho Session.

The next general election is slated for June 2012. That is when six ON Congress terms will expire and those four-year-term seats will be up for grabs.

In the meantime, Election officials have been considering revisions to the law to reflect issues and events which occurred during the 2010 general and runoff elections, as well as worse-case scenarios. A revised code is subject to Congressional approval.

July 27, 2011
ON Election Board shreds 2010 runoff election ballots

Over 2,000 votes cast for the top two Executive Branch posts last year; Board is also considering a Facebook page for informational purposes

The Osage Nation Election Board voted unanimously to destroy the hundreds of paper ballots cast in the July 2010 runoff election for the top two Executive Branch offices. On July 25, those 2,000-plus ballots were shredded after being retrieved from the Pawhuska bank safe where they were stored.

June 20, 2011
ON Election Board destroys ballots from the June 2010 general election

Over 2,600 ballots shredded; Board to also consider destroying runoff election ballots next month

No rubber bands were harmed when the Osage Nation Election Board Office destroyed hundreds of paper ballots cast during last summer’s general election.

On June 9, election office staffers shredded over 2,600 paper ballots cast during the June 7, 2010 election for the Office of the Chiefs and six ON Congress seats. The board approved this action during a scheduled meeting that morning. 

April 21, 2011
ON Election Board confirmed by Congress

One alternate board position remains open; Revised election code remains tabled by Congressional committee

The Second Osage Nation Congress confirmed three Osages who will sit on the Election Board, as well as one alternate board member during the April 13 Hun-Kah Session.

Walter Hopper, Shannon Lockett and Terry Hazen were unanimously confirmed for the board, as was Suzanne Moore who will be an alternate board member.

February 15, 2011
Osage Nation Election Board Meeting

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Election Office at (918) 287-5286

The agenda is as follows:

1. Call to Order - 2:00 p.m.

2. Welcome- HA.WE

a. Invocation

3. Roll Call

4. Discuss, consider, and take action for approval of minutes for January 11, 2011.

5. Discuss proposed amendments to the Osage Nation Election Code.

6. Old Business

7. New Business

8. Executive Session

9. Discuss and set next meeting date.

10. Adjournment - A^.PANA.Da

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Election Office at (918) 287-5286.

March 10, 2010
Campaign fundraiser for Chief Gray to be held tonight in Oklahoma City

Gray gives his State of the Nation address tomorrow at Sovereignty Day and travels to southern California for his last Town Hall meeting Saturday

A campaign fundraiser for Osage Nation Principal Chief Jim Gray in Oklahoma City tonight has surprised some Osages since Gray has not officially announced his bid for re-election in June.

The fundraiser, hosted by Yancey Red Corn, a principal in the Norman-based firm Red Eagle Feather, LLC, said in a prepared release that he is hosting the fundraiser in hopes that Gray will run for re-election.

February 11, 2010
Sarah Oberly resigns as Election Board Supervisor

Election Board appoints a tribal and municipal judge from Ponca City as new supervisor

Lisa Otipoby, a tribal judge and municipal judge from Ponca City, has replaced Sarah Oberly as Osage Nation Election Board Supervisor.

“My election experience is through the courts,” Otipoby said during the meeting Wednesday evening at the election board office in downtown Pawhuska. “I’ve seen how elections can be mishandled and can cost tribes a lot of money, and I’ve also seen how elections can be run smoothly and save tribes a lot of money.”

August 18, 2009
Online comments by would-be candidate deleted by Osage News

Osage News deletes two comments by Jenny Miller

The Osage News deleted from its Web site two comments written by Jenny Miller, who plans to run in next year’s tribal election, after Interim Editor Shannon Shaw decided they violated the newspaper’s policy on reader comments.

Under newspaper policy set by a three-member Editorial Council, the Osage News will delete reader comments that are personal attacks or untrue.

August 14, 2009
Election Board appointees getting to work

Dr. Joe Conner and Martha Spotted Bear replace Judy Neff and Judy Wilson

The Osage Nation Election Board appointees have met twice since being appointed July 13 and are getting familiar with the Nation’s election laws and hammering out qualifications they will look for in an election supervisor.