NAABI now on Legislation No. 0346-14: Relating to Naabik’iyati’ Committee and the Navajo Nation Council; Waiving Certain Navajo Election Code Provisions to Allow for a Special Election for the President of the Navajo Nation and Other Elective Offices
(Sponsor: Honorable LoRenzo Bates, Honorable Roscoe Smith)

COMMITTEE MEMBER/DELEGATE LORENZO CURLEY
we are part of problem. we need to deal with this. as long as allow Chief Justice Herb Yazzie to throw his weight around we allow courts to disrupt election process. i’d like to reinstate board so they can deal with election matter.

COMMITTEE MEMBER/DELGATE MEL BEGAY
As i examine this resolution, section 1-Finding A, B, C, D, E, F, G, that the Navajo Council is the governing body…Why are we sidetracking policy because of what Supreme Court said. So we are waiving law to accomodate Supreme Court decision. I think that if Council does this then we are making bigger mistake. The Navajo Department of Justice needs to examine what the Supreme Court did because the Supreme Court is not the legislative body. The Council is the legislative body.

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM BATES
my third point for this legislation is timelines to be met which involve early voting, absentee, printing of ballots so deadline of having special presidential election by end of December is not met then this legislation will accomodate a special presidential election as late as February.

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM DANNY SIMPSON
Vote on 0346-14, 6 in favor, 5 opposed. Delegates Russell Begaye and Jonathan Nez not voting but present in Naabi meeting.