Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH - The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma's (CNO) tribal elections of Saturday May 22, 1999, will be monitored by the Carter Center of Atlanta. The request for the center to observe the tribal elections originally came from a CNO Council member and candidate, some months ago.

According to a spokesperson for the center, this will be the first time the center has monitored an election for an American Indian Tribe. The spokesperson said that about 10 observers will be working at the tribal polling precincts in northeastern Oklahoma. President Carter will not be among the observers.

"The Carter Center will observe elections for Cherokee Nation tribal chiefs and members of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council on Saturday, May 22. Invitations were extended by the Cherokee Elections Commission, the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council and several candidates."

The Carter Center is a nonprofit public policy center founded by former President Jimmy Carter and former first Lady Rosalynn Carter. The purpose of the center is to fight disease, hunger, poverty, conflict, and oppression around the world. The center has monitored elections in 15 countries, including many third world nations.