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TAHLEQUAH, OK - Encouraging the public to vote in state and federal elections, the Cherokee Nation is offering early vote rallies, as well as election day car caravans and rides to the polls. The early vote rallies are scheduled in six northeastern Oklahoma counties, each rally is located near an early voting location and will offer voter information and breakfast or lunch refreshments. The Cherokee Nation is also providing rides to the polls on election day for anyone living in the Locust Grove area and Cherokee, Adair and Tulsa counties.

"Our involvement in this year’s election is unprecedented," said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith. "Because of the issues and candidates in this election we are coming together to make sure our voice is heard. It is very important as a tribal citizen and a U.S. citizen to exercise our voting right and we want ensure that election information is available to all our citizens. We also want to make voting easily accessible and fun; we hope the results of the elections make this a positive experience for our citizens."

Early Vote Rallies Held in Six Counties
"We are scheduling a rally in Cherokee, Adair, Sequoyah, Delaware, Rogers and Wagoner counties to encourage people to come out and vote early," said Ginger Brown, coordinator of the Get Out the Vote campaign for the Cherokee Nation.

Tahlequah (Cherokee County)
Dates/Time: Friday, October 29 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Lunch refreshments will be served.
Saturday, October 30 (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.)
Breakfast refreshments will be served.
Monday, November 1 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Lunch refreshments will be served.
Location: Cherokee County Fair Barn
908 South College St.
Contact: 918-456-0671 (ext.2675)

Stilwell (Adair County)
Dates/Time: Friday, October 29 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Lunch refreshments will be served.
Monday, November 1 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Lunch refreshments will be served.
Location: Cherokee Nation Complex,
behind Adair County Courthouse
219 West Oak
Contact: 918-696-3124

Sallisaw (Sequoyah County)
Date/Time: Friday, October 29 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Lunch refreshments will be served.
Location: Sallisaw Fair Barn
East Redwood & Shurley Rd.
Contact: (918) 775-4838
Date/Time: Monday, November 1 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Lunch refreshments will be served.
Location: Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce
Highway 59 & Cherokee Street
Contact: (918) 775-2558

Jay (Delaware County)
Dates/Time: Friday, October 29 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Lunch refreshments will be served.
Monday, November 1 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Lunch refreshments will be served.
Location: Cherokee Nation Career Services Building
12th and Cherokee St.
Contact: 918-253-3243

Claremore (Rogers County)
Date/Time: Friday, October 29 (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.)
Pancake and sausage breakfast will be served.
Location: Claremore Fair Board Building
(on Expo Center grounds facing Hwy 20)
Contact: 918-752-4342
Cast your ballots early at the Rogers County Election Board!

Wagoner (Wagoner County)
Dates/Time: Friday, October 29 (7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)
Biscuits and gravy will be served.
Friday, October 29 (3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.)
Hot dogs and chips will be served.
Saturday, October 30 (11 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Chili and hot links will be served.
Monday, November 1 (7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)
Biscuits and gravy will be served.
Monday, November 1 (3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.)
Hot dogs and chips will be served.
Location: Wagoner Community Building
NE corner of Jefferson and Cherokee (next to Armory)
Contact: 918-207-8188

Election Day Caravans
Everyone living in Muskogee, Wagoner, Cherokee, Nowata, Adair, Ottawa, Rogers, Mayes, Tulsa, Sequoyah, and Craig Counties are invited to decorate their vehicles and participate in an election day caravan on November 2 to remind people to get out and vote.

"We had a great turn out at our caravan for the July elections," said Ignacia Marritt, caravan coordinator. "We even had some candidates ride along with us. The goal of the election day caravans is to remind everyone to get out and vote."

Caravan coordinators will give prizes for the vehicle that travels the furthest distance in the caravan and the best-decorated vehicle. For more information on the caravan in your area and the exact location of the route, contact Ignacia Marritt at (918) 456-0671 ext. 2428.

Election Day Rides to the Polls
Free rides to the election polls will be provided on Tuesday, November 2 by Cherokee Nation Enterprises. The rides begin at 7 a.m. and end at 7 p.m. on election day. Open to the public, the rides are for anyone needing a ride to their local voting precinct and who live in the Locust Grove area, and Cherokee, Adair and Tulsa counties. To schedule a free ride, call 1 (918) 384-7983 or toll free at 1 (866) 553-5558. Calls to schedule rides will be taken this Thursday through Monday, October 28 through November 1, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Tuesday, November 2, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Cherokee Nation has registered more than 20,000 new voters since 2000. The tribe has more than 250,000 citizens, including 150,000 in Oklahoma.

For more Cherokee Nation Get Out the Vote information call the Cherokee Nation’s government relations office, phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2675).

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org