On September 19, 2020, the Seneca-Cayuga Nation will hold an election for the positions of Chief, 1st Council Person, 3rd Council Person, 1st Grievance Committee Member, 3rd Grievance Committee Member, and 5th Grievance Committee Member. Every Seneca–Cayuga person who is 18 years or older will be able to vote and have a say in who leads our Nation. This year's election will be conducted by mail-in ballot. Using a mail-in ballot will ensure everyone has equal access to the polls. Voting by mail is simple, but there are a few essential things to know as you prepare to vote. 

Getting Your Ballot:

Ballots will be mailed to every eligible voter sometime between July 21st and August 21st. An eligible voter is anyone who is 18 years or older on the day of the election and is listed on the rolls maintained by the Enrollment Department. You do not need to request a ballot. Your ballot will be mailed to the address on file at the Enrollment Department. If you want a ballot, please make sure the correct address is on file by calling 918-787-5452 ext. 6027, or submit the address change online at www.sctribe.com/address-update/. 

If you don't have an address on file, you will not get a ballot, so be sure and update your records. If you do not receive a ballot, please notify the Enrollment Office in writing and include your address, phone number, and roll number. Once your eligibility is confirmed, the election administrator will send you a voting packet. 

When you Receive Your Ballot:

Your ballot will arrive by mail. If it has been damaged during mailing, please send it back to the election administrator, Election Trust, along with a written request for a new ballot. 

Your ballot packet will include the following items:

• Election Notice
• Ballot
• Instructions for filling out the ballot
• Voter affidavit to be notarized
• Secrecy envelope
• Pre-addressed, stamped envelope used to return the ballot

Voting:

Voting is simple. Follow the instructions included in the packets to fill out the ballot and voter affidavit. Here are the steps:

• Have the affidavit notarized. 
• Fill in your ballot and seal it in the secondary secrecy envelope to ensure your vote is anonymous. 
• Place the affidavit and the secrecy envelope in the provided return envelope, seal the envelope, and mail through the United States Postal Service. 

The address on the return envelope is a post office box set up specifically for the election. Ballots must arrive in the post office box before 11:00 am on September 19, 2020. Ballots that arrive after 11:00 am on September 19, 2020, will not be counted. Please mail your ballots early to ensure they arrive on time. You must use the return envelope provided. If you send your vote in a different envelope or using different forms, it will not be counted.

There will be no in-person voting for this election. If you want to vote, be sure and mail in your ballot. 

Counting the Vote:

Election Trust will count the vote. Employees from Election Trust will have access to the PO box that ballots are mailed to. No one else will have access. On September 19, 2020, employees from Election Trust, supervised by the Election Committee, will open the PO box. Ballots will be securely transferred to the Community Center for counting. Ballots will be counted by the election administrator, under the Election Committee's supervision, and observed by representatives for each candidate. No electioneering or loitering will be allowed within 500 feet of the location ballots are being counted. 

For more information general information about SCN government visit: https://sctribe.com/government/general-information