"I’ve seen the comments from a lot of you on Facebook and this website, at the bottom of the stories we’ve posted relating to the now-invalid principal chief’s race. Many of you feel as if your vote didn’t count in the chief’s race because the tribe’s election process, though outlined by Legislative Act 6-10, broke down between June 25 and July 21.

As the Cherokee Phoenix and other media outlets reported the events, I saw more comments being posted that read along the lines of “my vote didn’t count,” “why should I vote when it doesn’t count” and “I’ve lost complete faith in the election process.” Other comments alleged incompetence and/or corruption at just about everyone involved – from the EC and AES to the Supreme Court and both candidates.

But if you look back at the vote totals, even though they are now invalid, you will see the differentials were close – five votes, seven votes, 11 votes. Heck, even 266 votes. If I were a candidate and initially lost an election by any of those vote counts, I would ask for a recount since there were more than 15,000 votes cast.

My point is that no matter how you voted in the chief’s race, no matter whom you support now going into the Sept. 24 election, your candidate of choice needs you more than ever.

If you believe Chad Smith is the right direction, then he needs your vote. If you believe Bill John Baker really does mean business, he needs your vote. The totals show that each vote does count."

Get the Story:
Travis Snell: Your candidate needs your vote, especially now (The Cherokee Phoenix 8/4)

Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Decision:
In the Matter of 2011 General Election (July 21, 2011)

Related Stories:
Cherokee Nation schedules September 24 vote for principal chief (8/1)
Cherokee Nation election commission delays action on new vote (7/27)
Cherokee Nation to consider election laws after disputed vote (7/26)
Joe Crittenden wins election as deputy chief of Cherokee Nation (7/25)
Supreme Court of Cherokee Nation orders new election for chief (7/21)
Cherokee Nation Supreme Court to decide fate of disputed vote (7/20)
Recount gives Chad Smith the edge in Cherokee Nation election (7/18)
Cherokee Nation's top court orders hand recount of all ballots (7/13)
Cherokee Nation election chairman resigns amid dispute on vote (7/6)
Bill John Baker 'certified' as winner of Cherokee Nation chief race (7/1)
Cherokee Nation expected to start recount for close chief's race (6/30)
Cherokee Nation candidate seeks answers about election tally (6/29)
Cherokee Nation says Chad Smith wins chief's post by 7 votes (6/28)
Cherokee Nation elects new leader by slim margin of 11 votes (6/27)
Candidates for leader of Cherokee Nation raise nearly $417K (6/24)
Cherokee Nation headed to polls on Saturday to choose chief (6/21)
Pat Ragsdale: Chad Smith is right choice for Cherokee chief (6/15)
Cherokee Nation releases plane logs but costs not reported (6/15)
Candidates for chief of Cherokee Nation debate the issues (6/7)
Opinion: Re-elect Chad Smith as leader of Cherokee Nation (6/1)
Cherokee Nation urges members to vote in tribal election (4/25)
Cherokee Nation chief criticized for ads touting achievements (3/24)
Cherokee Nation set for election for principal chief, deputy chief (3/15)