Election Board orders new election in District 9

The Lumbee Tribal Election Board has ordered a new election in District 9 after determining that four people voted out of district.

A date for the election has not been set.

Sheila Beck-Jones, chairwoman of the Election Board, said a date will be announced by December 16.

The official results showed that Elaine McNeil Collins defeated incumbent Anita Hammonds-Blanks by a vote of 199 to 197 on November 17. An automatic recount was held because tribal election law requires it if the vote difference between two candidates is within a range of 1 percent of the total number of ballots cast.

The recount ended with Collins receiving 200 votes and Blanks, 197.

Hammonds filed an appeal on November 24 challenging the eligibility of four voters.

The Election Board met on Wednesday.

“The Lumbee Tribal Election Board, after a hearing, concludes that four voters ….. live outside the boundaries of District 9,” according to the board’s response.

The board concluded that there were “material and significant irregularities” that occurred during the District 9 tribal council race.

District 9 includes all of Saddletree.

Beck-Jones said the board cannot certify the results and declared the November 17 election results in District 9 is “null and void.”

Click here to view a copy of the Election Board’s response to Anita Hammonds-Blanks’ appeal.