With COVID-19 coronavirus-related closures starting to cease this month, the Wahzhazhe Elections Office is holding a May 15 drawing for Election Day candidate campsites.
Each election year, Osage candidates have set up Election Day campsites at the government campus park as a last-minute opportunity to campaign and greet voters on their way to mark their ballots. The campsites are also opportunities for fellowship and sharing food and refreshments during the day-long occasion, which typically draws Osages, their families and friends from near and afar.
On May 11, Election Supervisor Alexis Rencountre announced to the 2020 Congressional candidates that her office will conduct the campsite drawing during a 4 p.m. videoconference. The drawing will determine the order in which the candidates will pick from 29 available spots marked on a map of the campus park, which is across the service road west of the Chambers Building and ON Museum.
Due to the COVID-19 updates that change by the day and with physical distancing and large gathering bans recommended by health and government officials, the Wahzhazhe Election Board held off on deciding whether to allow the June 1 Election Day campsites.
The campsite drawing date announcement comes as the Nation’s government offices reopened to the public on May 11 and non-essential government employees resumed their duties in their respective workplaces.
In the 2018 General Election, a total of 28 campsites were set up at the campus park by candidates seeking Congressional or Executive Branch offices, as well as Osage Minerals Council office.
In this election year, the Election Board has already decided to move the June 1 Election Day polling place from the campus to the ON Civic Center on West Main Street in Pawhuska to keep physical distancing practices in place for the voting booths set up. Election Day voting will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Election Board’s next scheduled meeting is Monday, May 18 with the primary focus on reviewing campaign reporting statements, which are required to be submitted by all Congressional candidates. The deadline week for submitting the statements detailing campaign donations and expenditures is May 11-15, according to the Election Office.
Rencountre said the election officials will announce the unofficial election results in front of the Chambers Building on the campus as in past election years. The election results will be posted at the polling place, the Election Office and online. The Election Board will certify the election results at a later date pending any recount requests or election result challenges made by candidates as allowed by the election code.
The Wahzhazhe Elections Office toll-free number is (877) 560-5286 and the email address is electionoffice@osagenation-nsn.gov for election-related inquiries.
Follow “Osage Elections” on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates on the 2020 General Election.
By
Benny Polacca
Original Publish Date: 2020-05-12 00:00:00
