(a) "Business Council" means the Colville Business Council, a 14 member

governing body established by the Constitution and By-Laws of the

Confederated 2 Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

(b) "Closely related/immediate family" shall be the interpretation of closely

related/immediate family, as listed:

(1) Grandparent,

(2) Parent,

(3) Spouse/significant other,

(4) In-law,

(5) Daughter,

(6) Son,

(7) Foster child,

(8) Brother,

(9) Sister,

(10) Aunt,

(11) Uncle,

(12) Niece,

(13) Nephew,

(14) First Cousin,

(15) Anyone who resides in the same household.

(c) "Constitution" means the Constitution and By-Laws having been proposed

and duly ratified by the Indians of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville

Reservation on February 26, 1938, including amendments.

(d) "Election Committee" means a committee composed of one seated council

member from each district, provided that he is not up for re-election this

calendar year, and providing that the Election Committee is approved by

majority vote of a quorum of the Colville Business Council.

(e) "Election day" means the day established by the approved schedule of

events to hold the primary election or the general election.

(f) "Election Staff" means the Executive Director or his designee, Election

Coordinator and one Election Clerk.

(g) "Eligible voter" means an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated

Tribes, who are at least 18 years of age as of election day.

(h) "Enforcement officer" means any tribal police officer, game warden, and

park rangers.

(i) "Him/he" is intended to be gender neutral and should be understood to

include the meaning of she/her.

(j) "Physically reside" means bodily residing in a primary home residence in

accordance with Article II, Section 6 of the Constitution and By-Laws.

(k) "Polling place" means the location designated by the Election Committee

where balloting takes place.

(l) "Registration" means all enrolled tribal members, 18 years of age and older

are considered automatically registered for tribal election purposes.

(m) "Schedule of events" means the official notice of election to include

applicable times/dates of events.

(n) "Signature" includes, for those persons unable to write, a thumbprint and/or

his "X," providing two witnesses affix their signature.

(o) "Superintendent" means the superintendent or designee of the Colville

Indian Agency.

(p) "Tribes" means the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

(q) "Voting district" means the general geographic area surrounding the

Inchelium, Keller, Nespelem and Omak communities. The boundaries of each

Reservation district shall be specifically delineated in an official voting district

map approved by the Election Committee. Voting districts shall also include

adjacent off-reservation areas. The following lists on and off reservation voting

district communities:

(a) The Election Committee shall, pursuant to Article III, Section 2, of the

Constitution and By-Laws, have overall responsibility to determine the rules

and regulations governing all tribal elections, provided such rules and

regulations shall be subject to approval by the Colville Business Council.

(b) In the event that a candidate is closely related to an Election Committee

member, the alternate Election Committee member will be used. The Election

Committee shall identify a minimum of four alternate committee members on

the date which the schedule of events is approved.

(c) The Election Committee shall consist of one seated council member from

each district.

(d) The Election Committee members shall not be up for re-election during the

election year.

(e) The Colville Business Council Executive Committee shall not be

recognized as ex-officio Election Committee members.

(f) Three members shall constitute a quorum.

(a) The Election Staff shall consist of the Executive Director or his designee,

Election Coordinator and one Election Clerk.

(b) The Executive Director or his designee, Election Coordinator and Election

Clerk shall be the only persons authorized to receive, from the U.S. Post Office,

election correspondence, and the postmaster shall be

so notified.

(c) The Election Staff shall be allowed to handle and process election material

as set forth herein.

(d) The Election Coordinator shall be responsible for the proper administering

of the election and shall provide adequate security of the ballots.

(e) Election Staff may be required to work overtime as necessary.

(f) The Election Staff shall notify the Executive Director in the event the staff

member is closely related to, or is an immediate family member to a candidate.

The Executive Director shall replace the staff member.

(a) The District Election Board shall consist of a Chairperson, two judges,

Sergeant-at-arms and an alternate for each district. The Chairperson will be

appointed by secret ballot from the prospective District Election Board

members on orientation day before the primary and general election.

(b) The Chairperson is to arrive at the specified polling place on or before

7:30 a.m. on the day of election. The Chairperson shall be responsible for:

(1) Ensuring that each District Election Board member and alternate is at the specified polling place on or before 7:30 a.m.;

(2) Setting up the polling place and providing security of the ballot box, timesheets and ballots;

(3) After the count has been completed, he will escort the ballot box back to the main tribal building after the polls close; and

(4) Hand carrying one (1) copy of the unofficial certification of poll votes, signed by the District Election Board members, time sheets and the ballot box to the Election Staff in the main tribal building.

(1) Maintaining order and calling upon the enforcement officers, when it is considered necessary, for assistance;

(2) Assisting with setting-up and clean-up of polling place; and

(3) Arriving at the specified polling place on or before 7:30 a.m. on the day of election.

(1) Assisting the Chairperson with the distribution of ballots, identifying voters, verifying signatures of voters, voters' eligibility and checking contested ballots by:

(2) Assisting with setting-up and clean-up of polling place; and

(3) Arriving at the specified polling place on or before 7:30 a.m. on the day of election.

(1) Securing the ballot box;

(2) Ensuring that each ballot is accounted for and that the voter has deposited his ballot into the ballot box;

(3) Assisting with setting-up and clean-up of polling place; and

(4) Arriving at the specified polling place on or before 7:30 a.m. on the day of election.

(5) Assisting the handicapped and disabled within the polling place site.

(1) Showing up on orientation and election day, in case one of the selected District Election Board members is not available.

(2) Arriving at the specified polling place on or before 7:30 a.m. on the day of election.

(g) The District Election Board members and alternates shall be appointed and

approved by the Election Committee and shall be qualified active voters from

that district.

(h) District Election Board members shall not be closely related to candidates

from their district.

(j) Preference in selection, shall be given to persons who have served as

District Election Board members in prior elections, and to those who can

visibly identify eligible voters from that district. Rotation of District Election

Board members will occur every year beginning in May. The previous years'

alternate will become a bona fide District Election Board member of his

respective voting district. District Election Board members rotate and

are replaced at the end of their third year.

(k) There shall be a District Election Board for each district.

(1) Tampering with tribal election ballots;

(2) Tampering in any way with the election process;

(3) Disclosing to voters confidential information regarding candidates;

(4) Late arrival to orientation and polling place;

(5) Attempting to influence voters;

(6) Being disrespectful to voters and/or fellow workers;

(7) Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

(a) An enforcement officer shall be assigned to the vicinity of each polling

place on election day.

(b) The assigned enforcement officer shall accompany the District

Election Board Chairperson back to the main tribal building with the locked

ballot box after the polls have been closed and the votes have been counted and

certified by the District Election Board members.

(e) A candidate who is qualified and elected under section 8-3-60(c) above,

must return to physically reside in his district on the Colville Reservation

before assuming office.

(a) Enrolled members of the Colville Tribes who are eighteen (18) years of age

on the day of primary election and/or general election are eligible to vote.

(b) Eligible voters, voting for the first time may vote in the district of their

choosing. A first time voter's actual vote will establish voting district for future

elections.

(c) Eligible voters who have voted in prior elections must cast their ballot in the

district that they most recently voted in, except as provided for in section

8-3-62.

(a) No person will be allowed to receive an official petition form before or

after the dates specified in the schedule of events.

(b) A prospective candidate must apply in person to receive an official petition

for candidacy, and sign for it.

(c) Petitions shall be numbered serially and only one official petition per

candidate shall be issued. Candidates may make copies of their petition.

(d) Election Staff shall verify the eligibility of those who signed the official

petition. Most current eligible voter list generated from AS400.

(e) In the event an issued official petition is lost or destroyed, that number will

be null and void and a new number shall be issued.

(f) A candidate is required to sign an affidavit that states he understands the

approved schedule of events prior to being issued an official petition.

(g) A candidate is required to deliver his own official petition into the hands of

the Election Staff according to the approved schedule of events. The Election

Staff will verify with the candidate the following:

(1) The position they are filing for;

(2) The spelling of the name; and

The candidate will acknowledge information to be true and correct on the

official petition. The Election Staff will date and time stamp the official

petition. Once the official petition has been processed it will not be returned to

the candidate for any reason. The Election Staff will bring the petition to the

Election Committee for certification.

(h) The election office clock is the official elections clock and will be used for

the approved schedule of events. Petitions will not be accepted after the date

and time stated on the approved schedule of events.

(a) The annual schedule of events must be approved by the Colville Business

Council by resolution. The approved schedule of events shall be published in

the February edition of the Tribal Tribune and posted in all tribal entities, BIA,

IHS and approved U.S. Post Offices. No Election Code amendments shall be

made following the approval of the schedule of events, or until completion of

the general election. The election process will begin upon approval of the

schedule of events.

(b) The approved schedule of events shall contain the following information:

(1) Opening date for filing an official petition;

(2) Closing date for filing an official petition;

(3) Deadline for withdrawing official petitions;

(4) Certification of candidates;

(5) District Election Board orientation;

(6) Date of primary election;

(7) Date of general election;

(8) Polling place:

(9) Date of poll vote certification for primary election;

(10) Date of absentee ballot certification for primary election.;

(11) Date of poll vote certification for general election;

(12) Date of absentee ballot certification for general election;

(13) Date of oath of office.

(a) The Election Staff shall prepare the following material for distribution to

candidates:

(1) Eligible eighteen (18) year old list;

(2) Voters-by district list;

(3) Never voted list; and

(4) A copy of this Chapter.

(b) The lists shall be prepared from the Tribal Election and/or Enrollment

records.

(d) No lists other than specified in section 8-3-92(a) shall be issued to

candidates.

(a) Eligible voters shall be allowed to vote via absentee ballot.

(b) Certified candidates will be allowed to solicit absentee voting by mailing

out pre-printed materials.

(c) Eligible voters may utilize preprinted post cards to request an absentee

ballot or any other written and signed request (e.g.: letters, Tribal Tribune

notice).

(d) Special arrangements will be made at the Nespelem U.S. Post Office to

handle the election correspondence and only the Election Staff are authorized

to receive election materials from the Nespelem U.S. Post Office. Accordingly

all pre-printed absentee ballot request cards shall be addressed to the:

Colville Confederated Tribes

Election Coordinator

P.O. Box 150,

Nespelem, WA 99155

(e) All requests for absentee ballots will be accompanied by a written, signed

form and must be delivered in person by the individual requesting the absentee

ballot or by U.S. mail.

(f) The Election Staff will maintain a chronological listing of all absentee ballot

requests and balloting materials that have been sent or received.

(g) Persons voting for the first time may vote in any district of their choosing

Election Staff will honor and process only the first request, thereby insuring

that persons are allowed to vote only once and only in one district.

(h) All received absentee ballots and absentee ballot request will be stamped

with a date stamp and initialed by the Election Staff. Any returned absentee

ballot that does not bear a U.S. postmark, will be presented to the Election

Committee (noting the date it was received) for a decision to validate or to

invalidate it. For any returned absentee ballot that bears more than one valid

U.S. postmark, the earlier U.S. postmark will be counted.

(i) In the event an eligible voter indicates in writing that his absentee ballot was

lost or destroyed, a new one may be issued providing that the necessary

precautions are taken by the Election Staff to insure that only one ballot is

returned/counted.

(j) All returned absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than the date of

the election day, and must bear the written signature of the voter on the outside

envelope (see sections 8-3-93(h) and 8-3-93(p)).

(k) A returned absentee ballot that does not bear the signature of the voter on

the outer envelope will be invalid.

(l) Eligible voters select only one candidate for council position number one

and only one candidate for council position number two from the Inchelium,

Nespelem, and Omak Districts, and only one candidate from the Keller District.

(m) Writing or marks on ballots will be invalidated and will not count if

they contain the printed or signed name of the voter.

(n) The Election Coordinator shall be responsible for the printing and

safeguarding of all ballots.

(o) Absentee ballots shall be identical to poll ballots.

(p) Walk-in absentee voting will not be allowed. All absentee ballots must be

returned via U.S. mail or at the polls.

(a) Only official ballots shall be used in voting.

(b) Absentee ballots shall be color-coded as in the past. Districts will be

identified as follows:

(1) Nespelem-green;

(2) Inchelium-Blue;

(3) Omak-Pink;

(4) Keller-Yellow; and

(5) Each ballot from each district shall have a tear-off serial number.

(c) The candidates' names shall appear on the ballots in alphabetical order,

except that the incumbents' names shall appear first.

(d) The names and spelling used shall be the same as printed on the candidates'

petition.

(e) The tear-off serial numbers are to be used in insuring proper accountability

only, and shall be removed prior to voting/mailing of absentee ballots to the

voter.

(f) Sample ballots shall be posted in the community centers, Tribal, BIA, IHS

buildings; Nespelem, Omak, Inchelium and Keller Post Offices.

(g) Sample ballots shall not be provided to the candidates by Election Staff.

(h) Write-in voting for candidates shall not be allowed and shall not be

counted.

(b) Campaign materials are the responsibility of the candidate and do not

carry the express endorsement or rejection of the Colville Confederated Tribes,

the Colville Business Council, or employees of the Tribes.

(c) Candidates will bear the full financial responsibility for their own

campaigns.

(d) Candidates will be allowed to provide for private transportation of

voters to the polls.

(e) No campaigning will be allowed within 200 feet of the polling places

during elections.

(f) A candidate from the Nespelem, Omak or Inchelium Districts may

select a running-mate for his campaign, where one candidate runs for position

#1 and the other for position #2.

(g) Employees of the Colville Confederated Tribes, tribal entities, BIA or

IHS are prohibited from campaigning during assigned working hours.

(h) Expenditures by candidates for their campaigns from tribal entities, tribal

government, BIA or IHS funds will not be allowed.

(i) It shall be the responsibility of the candidate for the removal of all his

signs, posters, and all other campaign materials one (1) week after the

primary, general or a special election.

(j) If the Election Staff receives a written complaint alleging a certified

candidate violated any of the above campaign rules, the following process will

apply:

(1) The written complaint will be reviewed and investigated by the Election Staff;

(2) The candidate who is the subject of the complaint will be given notice of the complaint and an opportunity to respond to the allegation(s) in writing;

(3) The Election Staff shall submit a summary of findings to the Election Committee; and

(4) The Election Committee will determine whether a violation occurred and if so, the appropriate fine, penalty or sanction will be given.

Fine amounts will range from $100.00 up to $500.00 per violation. A finding

by the Election Committee of severe or repeated violations may result in the

candidate being disqualified from the elections. Failure to pay fine in full will

result in the candidates' ineligibility for future elections. The Elections

Committee decision is final.

(a) Ballot boxes shall be prepared in advance and shall contain the following

materials.

(1) Ballots;

(2) Flag;

(3) Pens (6);

(4) Tablets (4);

(5) Scotch tape (1);

(6) Stamp pad;

(7) This Chapter;

(8) Constitution and By-Laws;

(9) Voters list;

(10) Time sheets (4);

(11) Poll book and tally sheets;

(12) Certification of poll vote forms;

(13) Ballot envelopes;

(14) CCT tribal envelopes;

(15) Jar with key to box; and

(16) Badge, paper clips, rubber bands.

(b) Prepared ballot boxes shall be inventoried by the Election Staff and

District Election Board Chairperson the day before election day. Ballot boxes

shall then be issued to the Chairperson of the District Election Boards, along

with one set of keys which will be locked/sealed after the District Election

Board members' certification of the poll votes.

(c) Returned locked and sealed ballot boxes will remain in a locked space until

the Election Committee and the BIA Superintendent of the Colville Indian

agency request the re-count of poll votes and the official certification of poll

votes.

(a) The District Election Board members will be indoctrinated by the Election

Staff and/or Election Committee, the morning, prior to election day.

(b) The indoctrination shall include the following:

(1) Inventory of ballot boxes;

(2) Instructions on processing of wages, mileage, meal stipend and timesheets;

(3) Review of this Chapter;

(4) Process for contested ballots;

(5) Name and phone number of assigned tribal police officer;

(6) Use of dividend roll book;

(7) Voters lists include:

(8) Procedures for certification of poll vote;

(9) "Interpreter" will not have access to pen, pencil or other marking device while assisting voter;

(10) Use of poll book and tally sheet;

(11) Display of U.S. and tribal flag;

(12) Instruction for alternates;

(13) Arrangement to set up/use polling places;

(14) Other pertinent information.

(a) A primary election shall be held at least four weeks before the general

election. A primary election will be held in the Nespelem, Inchelium and Omak

districts only if there are more than two certified candidates for each numbered

position (from those districts) and in the Keller district only if there are more

than two certified candidates from that district.

(b) In the primary election for each voting district, the two candidates

receiving the most votes in each numbered position in Nespelem, Inchelium

and Omak districts shall qualify as candidates for the general election, and the

two candidates receiving the most votes in the Keller district shall qualify as

candidates for the general election. In the event of a tie, between candidates, in

the primary election, for a vacant general election ballot position, those

candidates will advance to the general election, even if the number of

candidates for that general election, exceeds two for each position in the

Nespelem, Inchelium and Omak districts, or exceeds two for the Keller district.

(c) Only candidates qualifying for the general election via the primary election

shall appear on the final election ballot.

(d) The certification of the primary election shall be the same as the

certification of general election where such certification procedures are

applicable and relevant in section 8-3-104.

(a) Indoctrination by the District Election Board Chairpersons.

(b) Election Staff shall be in the Tribal Office no later than 7:30 a.m.

(c) The Election Coordinator shall notify the District Election Board

Chairpersons of any additional absentee ballot requests.

(d) The District Election Board members, including alternates shall arrive at

their designated polling place no later than 7:30 a.m.

(e) The District Election Board members shall prepare the polling place to

include display of U.S. flag, setting up tables, booths, ballot box, poll and tally

sheet.

(f) Polling places will opens at 8:00 a.m.

(g) Eligible voters must be visibly identified by a District Election Board

member or show valid identification and be listed as an eligible voter from that

district.

(h) The ballots of all persons who are voting for the first time shall be treated as

contested ballots to insure that first time voters vote only once and in one

district.

(i) Allow orderly, secret voting to proceed.

(j) Allow eligible voters to cast their vote and where there is doubt, allow the

voter to cast a contested vote (i.e. allow him to vote and seal his vote in an

envelope with the District Election Board writing the voter's name and the

reason for contesting the vote, on the outside envelope).

(k) Any voter who was sent an absentee ballot, and for whatever reason state

that they have not voted in this election, will be allowed to cast a contested

vote.

(l) Sergeant-at-arms will maintain order and call upon the enforcement officer

when it is considered necessary for assistance.

(m) District Election Board members may take coffee, smoke, and lunch breaks

providing that they remain in the polling place if "workload" permits.

(n) No activity other than elections will be allowed in the assigned polling

places.

(o) District Election Board members will not divulge any election information

except through official channels.

(p) Polls close at 8:00 p.m.

(q) Persons waiting in line to vote at 8:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

(r) Doors shall be locked and only District Election Board members and

enforcement officers shall be present while vote count is being certified, and no

interruptions shall be tolerated (i.e. phone calls, visitors).

(s) Certification sheets shall be accurately filled out and signed and shall

include the following:

(1) Total number of ballots cast;

(2) Number of invalid votes;

(3) Number of contested votes; and

(4) Number of valid votes each candidate received.

(t) The District Election Board Chairperson will verbally relay the certified

results to the Election Staff.

(u) The District Election Board Chairperson is responsible to secure the ballot

box with a copy of the poll vote results, ballots and their assigned keys locked

inside.

(v) The District Election Chairperson and the enforcement officer must escort

the secured locked ballot box and hand carry the original certification of poll

votes to the Election Staff located in the main tribal building.

(w) The Election Coordinator is responsible the following:

(1) Make periodic calls to each polling place throughout the day to check status;

(2) Preparing and distributing the certified results; and

(3) Locking and securing all ballot boxes.

(a) The District Election Board members will verify and certify the results of

the poll votes for their district.

(b) The Election Coordinator will prepare the poll vote results for the Election

Committee and the BIA Superintendent to officially sign and approve the

written statement of the results.

(c) The certification of poll vote results will take place on the first working day

following the election.

(d) The certified poll votes will remain separate from the absentee ballots until

the certification of official returns is complete.

(1) Eligible eighteen (18) year olds voting for the first time;

(2) Eligible voters who are voting at a polling place and who have already requested an absentee ballot;

(3) Eligible voters with a name change not listed on the poll book;

(4) All ballots containing markings that are not in accordance with voting instructions, (which shall be processed pursuant to section 8-3-104);

(5) All ballots where the eligibility of the voter could not previously be determined; and

(6) All other ballots determined by the Election Staff to be contested.

(a) The Election Coordinator will receive and decide all minor (misspelling,

addresses and procedural) grievances within eight (8) working hour's of receipt.

Any grievant not satisfied with the decision of the Election Coordinator may

appeal to the Election Committee within eight (8) working hours of the

decision.

(b) The Election Committee will determine the disposition of all cases that are

not satisfactorily resolved by the Election Coordinator and all serious/major

challenges or protests involving alleged wrongs, misdeeds or injustices.

Specifically, the Election Committee may provide the final decision or refer the

matter to the full Business Council for decision or further disposition.

(c) Only documented, written, signed statements will cause a grievance

procedure to be acted upon by the Election Committee.

(d) All written grievances which may affect the final vote count of the primary

or general elections that were not resolved prior to the commencement of the

certification process must be properly presented to the Election Staff, the

Election Committee and the BIA Superintendent prior to the official

certification of the results. Grievances affecting poll votes must be received

prior to official certification of poll votes and grievances affecting absentee

votes must be received prior to the Election Committee, and the BIA

Superintendent certification of absentee votes.

The Election Staff, Election Committee, the BIA Superintendent and

designated staff shall count and certify the results of the absentee votes and

shall immediately provide the Election Staff with a signed written statement of

the results of the absentee and poll vote count.

(a) The Election Committee and the BIA Superintendent shall insure that

proper procedure is followed including the following:

(1) Determine first if any grievances have been filed prior to the commencement of the certification process. If so, the grievance will be resolved before proceeding;

(2) Insure that candidates are allowed to observe the certification proceedings (vote count);

(3) Any district may be chosen by the Election Committee to be counted first or second or third or last;

(4) Contested votes will be ruled upon first, and only the approved ballots (yet unopened) will be placed with the unopened absentee ballots;

(5) Those ballots that are declared invalid by the Election Committee will be returned to the Election Coordinator (immediately) for disposition and will remain unopened;

(6) The returned absentee ballot envelopes and the contested ballot

envelopes will be counted to ensure the total number of envelopes match the number indicated by election records;

(7) After counting the envelopes the Election Staff will open the outer envelopes and remove and shuffle the inner envelopes.

(8) Insure that each envelope contains only one ballot. Where envelopes contain more than one ballot, those ballots will be invalidated. (Note: By this time inner envelopes and ballots have already lost their identity.);

(9) Outer envelopes that do not contain the inner (ballot) envelope will be set aside until instruction is received from the Election Committee. The inner (ballot) envelopes will be counted and shuffled to lose identity.

(10) Inner (ballot) envelopes are opened and ballots are removed.

(11) Ballots are unfolded (face down) and counted.

(12) All ballots are given to an Election Staff member who will assist with reading names of the candidate who received the votes.

(13) A person designated by the Election Committee will sit adjacent to the Election Staff member to verify the correct names are called.

(14) Each candidates' first, last, middle or nick-name will be read clearly to avoid confusion of names that may sound the same.

(Amended 12/22/98, Resolution 1998-906)

(15) The Election Committee will designate a tally person to visibly keep "tally" on the chalkboard placing a "tick mark" each time the candidate's name has been called.

(16) The tally person will call out "tally" each time a candidate receives a fifth mark or multiple thereof. Tally will also be kept by the Election Committee and the BIA Superintendent.

(17) The election Committee member or the BIA Superintendent may request a tally check, that the count be slower or a recount of the total tally.

(18) Periodic pauses will be taken in the count to allow persons involved to remain alert and ready, and to insure that all persons agree to the chalkboard count.

(19) A different vote count by any of the Election Committee members or the BIA Superintendent will cause the ballots to be recounted.

(20) Ballots that contains markings other than or in addition to those authorized by the voting instructions shall be reviewed by the Election Committee for validation or invalidation. Each Election Committee member shall audibly vote on each ballot in question.

(21) After the last ballot has been counted, the tally will be checked and only if each Election Committee member and the BIA Superintendent agree on the tally will those results be certified.

(22) The same procedure shall be observed by the Election Committee for all districts.

(23) If a vote count difference of three (3) votes or less occurs between a candidate receiving the most votes and any other candidate, an immediate recount of both valid poll and valid absentee ballots is mandatory.

(24) The candidate receiving the most votes for position number one or for position number two in the Nespelem, Inchelium and Omak Districts will be elected. The candidate receiving the most votes in Keller will be elected;

(25) In the event a tie between candidates for a vacant position occurs, a run-off election for the remaining vacant position, between only those persons receiving a tie vote, will be held within thirty (30) days.

(26) The certification forms shall immediately be filled out and signed by a quorum of the Election Committee members and the BIA Superintendent;

(27) Copies of the certified results will be made for distribution and posting and one copy will be provided to the Tribal Tribune to be placed on page one of the next edition.

(28) The Election Committee Chairperson will notify the news media of certified results.

(1) The Election Committee shall determine by audible vote, the validity of each contested ballot. In order for a contested ballot to be deemed valid, a majority of the committee members present must vote in favor of validation.

(2) In determining whether to validate ballots containing marks that are not in conformity with the written voting instructions the committee members shall vote to validate such ballots only when they find that the voter's marking of the ballot clearly and unambiguously indicates the intent of the voter.

(3) All ballots containing markings indicating a vote for more than one candidate in a single position shall be invalidated.

(4) All ballots containing the signature or printed name of the voter shall be invalidated.

(5) The Election Committee shall rule on all contested ballots prior to final certification of the election.

(a) The council-elect shall be officially sworn in and seated in the Colville

Business Council on the second Thursday in July.