“Absentee ballot” means a legal document utilized by a voter in order to cast a vote for an election from a location other than the polling location. An absentee ballot shall be requested in advance of the election and must be mailed to the Election Commission’s post office box and received prior to the day of the election or deposited with the Election Commission in person on the day of the election.

“Absentee vote” or “absentee voting” means casting a vote for an election from a location other than the polling location.

“Absentee vote by mail packet” shall be the packet of materials distributed by the Election Commission containing absentee voting information to each eligible voter.

“Accommodation ballot” means a ballot created by the Election Commission to make accommodations for a disability or other special need of an eligible voter, including, but not limited to, a ballot containing both pictures and names of the candidates to accommodate those members of the Tribe who may be unable to read or a ballot containing the names of the candidates written in braille to accommodate those members of the Tribe who are blind.

“Amendment election” means an election called to amend the Constitution pursuant to Article XIV, Section 2 of the Constitution.

“Annual meeting” means the meeting of the General Council held during the second full weekend of June as required by Article VII, Section 3 of the Constitution which may be held by, and/or include, electronic video screen communication or other live streaming communications equipment.

“Appeal” means a formal request to a higher authority requesting a change in or confirmation of a decision.

“Ballot” means a legal form or document created for the purpose of allowing a voter to cast a vote in a particular election.

“Calendar days” means the timeline consisting of all days, including holidays and weekends, with day one (1) in any timeline being the first day after a particular event. Due dates that fall on a weekend or holiday are set to the following business day. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a date is considered a holiday if it is recognized as such by the Tribe’s Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual pursuant to 7 WRC § 1-101 et seq., Employment.

“Candidate” means somebody who is being considered for a political office or an official position.

“Candidate information packet” shall be the packet of materials distributed by the Election Commission containing candidate information submitted personally by each candidate for elective office.

“Certified election results” means the action taken by the Election Commission to approve the final election results after all votes have been counted and after all election appeals have been exhausted.

“Constitution” means the Constitution of Wilton Rancheria, adopted on November 11, 2011, as last amended and restated December 8, 2012.

“Duties” means obligations of the Election Commission members to perform tasks.

“Elected official” means the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and members of the Tribal Council.

“Election” means all elections pursuant to the Constitution including the general election, runoff election, special election, and amendment election.

“Election Commission” means the autonomous and permanent entity charged with administration of the Tribe’s elections pursuant to Article IX, Section 4 of the Constitution.

“Election offense(s)” means unlawful or otherwise improper conduct committed in an election including, but not limited to, fraudulent voting such as voting twice, voting under another voter’s name, or similar dishonest conduct. It also includes violations of the election process or this chapter in order to subvert the legitimate election results.

“Election procedures” means the established or correct method of procedures for an Election.

“Electioneering” means to take an active part in an election campaign, especially as, or on behalf of, a candidate for political office.

“Eligible voter(s)” means any member of the Tribe who is at least eighteen (18) years of age on the date of the election, as defined by Article IX, Section 3 of the Constitution.

“Felony” means a crime that has a greater punishment imposed by statute than that imposed by a misdemeanor.

“General election” means the election held the second full weekend of June during even-numbered years and held in conjunction with the Tribe’s annual meeting, pursuant to Article IX, Section 1 of the Constitution.

“Immediate family” means husband, wife, son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, father, stepfather, father-in-law, mother, stepmother, mother-in-law, brother, stepbrother, brother-in-law, sister, stepsister, sister-in-law, child, stepchild, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law, or a person whose relationship with the tribal member is similar to that of the persons listed within this definition.

“Official declaration of candidacy” means a legal document used for informing the Election Commission of a candidate’s intention to run for eligible office.

“Poll worker” means those volunteers recruited by the Election Commission to assist in conducting the election. All poll workers shall be tribal members and/or employees who are at least eighteen (18) years of age and older on the day of the election. No individual may serve as a poll worker if he or she or any member of his or her immediate family is running for elective office.

“Recount” means a second or more tabulation of votes entered in a particular election and occurring when the margin of victory for an election is less than one percent (1%).

“Runoff election” means the election held after the second full weekend of June and extended up to two (2) weeks to allow for absentee voting, during even-numbered years for any general election race which ends in a tied vote or in which the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson fails to obtain more than a majority of the vote, pursuant to Article IX, Section 2 of the Constitution.

“Special election” means an election called when there is a vacancy in the positions of both the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson to fill the position of the Chairperson.

“Special election runoff” means the election held for any special election race which ends in a tied vote or in which the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson fails to obtain more than a majority of the vote.

“Special meeting” means the meeting of the General Council pursuant to Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution which may be held by, and/or include, electronic video screen communication or other live streaming communications equipment.

“Spoiled ballot” means a ballot reflecting a vote that cannot be counted for whatever reason, typically because of marks outside of areas designated within the ballot form or physical damage to the form itself.

“Spokesperson” means the individual selected by the Election Commission from amongst its members to perform the duties, obligations, and responsibilities that are included for that position by this chapter.

“Tally” means the counting of votes.

“Tied vote” means when a vote results in exact or equal number of votes between two (2) or more alternatives.

“Vice-Spokesperson” means the individual selected by the Election Commission to perform the duties of the Spokesperson in meetings and elections if the Spokesperson is unable to perform the duties and responsibilities required by this chapter.

“Voting assistant” means an individual selected by the Election Commission to assist an eligible voter.

“Write-in” means a vote cast for an alternative not prelisted on a ballot wherein the voter physically adds the alternative choice to the ballot. (Res. 2023-04; Res. 2021-54; Res. 2020-14; Res. 2015-24; Res. 2014-41; Res. 2013-60; Res. 2013-57)