Cherokee Nation Recount Delayed

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The recount of the Cherokee Nation election was supposed to begin this morning at 9:00 A.M..

As of 1:30, the recount hadn't started.

According to local new sources, the court is holding a hearing to figure out if the ballots are in a condition to undergo a recount.

The controversy comes after Bill John Baker said Chad Smith stole the election for principal chief.

Baker calls the vote count a "black eye" for the Cherokee Nation.

He said, "I'm here today to tell you I am concerned about the integrity of the election."

Baker thought he had been elected principal chief last Sunday, but Monday tribal officials gave the victory to Chad Smith and declared him to have been re-elected as chief.

Baker said yesterday that he believes employees of Chief Smith were in the room during the second count, but says he has no evidence.

"It's all over the world right now that this is a third world type situation and we need to get it open, we need to get it fair, we need to have a good recount and let the people know that they had a fair election."

Smith said he hasn't done anything to influence the election and the tribe is only following its rules and laws.

"I'm confident in the processes and the laws of the people of the Cherokee Nation and I firmly believe that when all is said and done that I'll remain as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation."