Cherokees Set Vote On Freedmen Issue

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) The chief of the Cherokee Nation has set March 3rd for a vote on whether descendants of freed slaves can be members of the tribe. <br/><br/>The date is the third set for the special

Sunday, December 31st 2006, 8:11 am

By: News On 6

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) The chief of the Cherokee Nation has set March 3rd for a vote on whether descendants of freed slaves can be members of the tribe.

The date is the third set for the special election. After receiving a signature petition, Cherokee Principal Chief Chad Smith initially set the election for October 6th.

But freedmen descendant Vicki Baker of Chelsea sued, contending the petition contained numerous instances of fraud.

In a split decision last week, the Cherokee Supreme Court ruled the petition was valid and said Smith acted within his authority to call for a special election.

Smith says delaying the vote until March will allow the tribe's election commission more time to prepare.