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TAHLEQUAH, OK - On Monday any hope that a revisions to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma's (CNO) Constitution would be placed on the May 22 election ballot were dashed. A proposal to delay the constitutional convention, that had previously been tabled, was put to a vote and passed.

Chad Smith, candidate for Chief of the CNO, had proposed that the May 22 election target be delayed for the approval of constitutional revisions. Smith proposed a recess of the convention until August, to allow time for additional public hearings to be held, along with the suggestion that a special election be held later in the year.

The revised constitution will be one of the tribe's most historic documents, Smith said, and a special election can be called to decide it's fate.

The motion for a new completion date was tabled Sunday, however, on Monday the motion gained approval. A very noticeable drop in attendance of the might have had some influence in the delegations reconsidering a motion for delay.