Mock public election to be held as election board explores electronic tallying

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Election Board is exploring the possibility of introducing electronic tallying for upcoming tribal elections set for this June 2.

A mock public election will be held at 3:15pm on Monday, May 7, 2018 at the Office of the Aging (Senior Center) in Hogansburg for tribal voters to become familiar with the electronic tallying system.

“We want tribal voters to participate in the May 7th mock election and learn about the benefits of using electronic machines,’ said Election Board Member Joseph Bowen-Brewer in a press release.  “Members of the Election Board will be on hand to explain and assist individuals on the process to submit votes electronically. It’s a process that some tribal voters are already familiar with using in the school board elections.”

Over the past year, the Election Board has been exploring options to enhance efficiency and voter confidence at the same time reducing time and costs associated with conducting tribal elections.

The Dominion-brand voting machines for in-person voting are from the Franklin County Office of the Election Board, which are the same machines provided to the Salmon River School Board for their board elections and budget vote.

The tribal board has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Franklin County Office to furnish the electronic machines at no cost. The only costs associated with using the electronic tally system is for purchasing voting ballots and sets of memory cards, as well as for labor and delivery which is around $1,500 and represent a cost saving from previous elections.

“Electronic voting machines significantly reduce the number of people and time needed to manually count each ballot,” Election Board Member Hope Wheelock said in the press release.

“Automating the voting process reduces the likelihood of human error and increases the integrity of the vote, as well as provides election results in a fraction of the time. What took hours to count by hand will now be performed in minutes,” said Wheelock.

After the mock election, the Election Board has sceduled a presentation for tribal memebrs that will be held at 5:30pm on May 14th in the Tribe’s Community Building Lobby. The mock election will be recorded and viewed at the beginning of the May 14th Public Meeting, as well on Akwesasne TV.

By: Kevin Lazore/Regan Jacobs

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