Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who live off the North Carolina will no longer be able to mail in their votes for elections.

Due to a change in tribal law, off-reservation residents have to vote in person. That will have an impact on elections because about one-third of tribal members live elsewhere.

Diane Jacobson, a Cherokee who lives in Georgia, challenged the new law. She said it is nearly impossible for her to come to the reservation to vote because she has an autistic son who needs constant care.

But the Cherokee courts rejected Jacobson's lawsuit. They said the ban on mail-in votes was not discriminatory.

Chief Michell Hicks is running for re-election this year. Thanks to mail-in ballots, he narrowly won his bid for office three years ago, The Smoky Mountain News reported.

Get the Story:
Cherokee heads into election with absentee limits in place (The Smoky Mountain News 1/10)

Relevant Links:
Eastern Band of Cherokee - http://www.cherokee-nc.com

Related Stories:
Eastern Band in talks to host Wal-Mart Supercenter (1/9)
Eastern Band brings Christmas to tribal elders (12/19)
Eastern Band chief weighs absentee voting bill (12/12)
Eastern Cherokees lose leader with death of Leon Jones (01/04)
Eastern Cherokees to audit enrollment records (10/10)
Voters oust chairman of Eastern Cherokee council (09/02)
Eastern Cherokee Band holds council election (9/1)
Eastern Cherokees made $1M in political donations (01/12)
Eastern Cherokees award $4.5 million in grants (09/28)
Column: Eastern Cherokees give money to enemies (09/07)
Eastern Cherokee Band's $49M resort plan approved (07/22)