Go-ahead for Navajo ballot initiatives challenged

The Navajo Election Administration is challenging a ruling that allows two ballot initiatives to go before voters within six months.

In an appeal filed with the Navajo Supreme Court on Monday (July 6), the administration says the ruling disregards the clear requirements of the tribe’s election law.

Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. is leading the effort to have tribal members vote on reducing the Tribal Council and giving the president line-item veto authority.

Initiatives require the signature of 15 percent of all registered voters.

Election officials determined that not enough signatures were valid. But a tribal hearing officer says election officials used conflicting and ambiguous statutory provisions to disqualify petition signatures.