Navajo President Ben Shelly has rejected lawmakers’ latest attempt to change a requirement for presidential candidates to be fluent in the tribe’s language. Shelly vetoed the bill Wednesday.
Last week, the Navajo Nation Council approved Legislation No. 0341-14, which would have provided for a special run-off election and a special general election for the offices of the President and Vice President.
In addition, the bill would provide approximately $317,000 to the Navajo Election Administration to fund the elections.
Legislation sponsor Council Delegate Leonard Tsosie sought a new presidential election to address the issues of voters who cast votes for former presidential candidate Chris Deschene, who was disqualified from the presidential race following the primary election held in August. Deschene was replaced as a presidential candidate last year after failing to show he could speak fluent Navajo.
Council members voted 11-1 in favor of the legislation.
On Oct. 31, the Navajo Nation Supreme Court held the nine members in contempt for failing to comply with a Supreme Court order to remove Deschene from the ballot for the general election.