Voter registration will close on April 28, 2023. You may update your voter registration or make a community change during this time.
Absentee Application/Ballot Request for Primary Election
April 3-May 15, 2023, for requests made by phone, electronic mail, or US mail. Requests made in person at the Board of Elections office should be made by 4 p.m. the Friday before the said election. If approved for an absentee ballot, ballots shall be given or mailed to the prospective voter by the Board of Elections beginning on May 1, 2023. All absentee ballots must be witnessed and received by the Board of Elections on or before 4 pm before the primary election.
Early Voting Dates
May 1-22, 2023, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., no weekend voting except May 20, 2023. Early voting will be held in the Board of Election office.
Write-in Candidacy Filing
April 3-7, 2023, all fees apply and are nonrefundable.
Principal Chief or Vice-Chief is $1,000. Tribal Council is $500. School Board is $350 for Painttown, Big Y, and Yellowhill. Filing fees are nonrefundable and shall be paid at EBCI Finance by cash, cashier’s check, electronic payment, or money order.
June 1, 2023, Primary Election
General Election Information
Voter Registration
Opens June 5, 2023, and will close Aug. 4, 2023.
Absentee Application/Ballot Request
July 3 – Aug. 15, 2023, for requests made by phone, electronic mail, or US mail. Requests made in person at the Board of Elections office by 4 pm the Friday before said election. If approved for an absentee ballot, ballots shall be given or mailed to the prospective voter by the Board of Elections beginning Aug. 1, 2023. Absentee ballots must be witnessed, returned to, and received by the Board of Elections on or before 4 pm before the General Election.
Voter registration will close on Aug. 4, 2023. You may update your voter registration or make a community change during this time. Enrolled members who will be 18 years of age on or before the date of the General Election may register to vote.
Early Voting Dates
Aug. 7-28, 2023, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., no weekend voting except August 26, 2023. Early voting will be held in the Board of Elections office.
Sept. 7, 2023 General Election
Eligibility for Absentee Voting
Section 161-15 Absentee Voting
(1) Tribal members serving on active military duty, including immediate family members who reside in the household, who are unable to return to Cherokee/polling place to cast their votes;
(2) Tribal members who are unable to return to Cherokee/polling place to cast their votes;
(3) Tribal members enrolled in institutions of higher education and enrolled members of their household that are unable to return to Cherokee/polling place to cast their votes;
(4) Tribal members who are employees of the Tribe and are required to be away from Cherokee for training or for reasons required by their employment on the date of election who are unable to return to Cherokee/polling place to cast their votes;
(5) Tribal members who: because of illness are in a hospital, nursing home, or other treatment facility, and/or, who because of their physical condition and course of treatment are unable to go to the polling place to cast their votes; or
(6) Tribal members who physically reside on Cherokee trust lands but who will be absent from Cherokee on Election Day for business or personal reasons, and are unable to return to Cherokee/polling place to cast their votes.
All absentee applicants must provide proof of criteria that they present and meet.
Polling Locations
Big Cove Community Center, 8715 Big Cove Road; Big Cove EB Rep: Consie Girty
Birdtown Community Building, 1146 Birdtown Rod, Hwy 19S; Birdtown EB Rep: Denise L. Ballard
Big Y Recreation Center, 2641 Wrights Creek Road; Big Y EB Rep: Cindy Chandler, Chairperson
Cherokee County Health Clinic, 328 Airport Road, Marble, NC; Cherokee Co. EB Rep: Roger Smoker
Painttown TBD; Painttown EB Rep: Joan Bradley
Jacob Cornsilk Complex, 60 Snowbird School Road, Robbinsville, NC; Snowbird EB Rep: Roger Smoker
Wolftown Recreation Center, 27 Long Branch Road; Wolftown EB Rep: Cindy Chandler, Chairperson
Yellowhill Activity Center, Acquoni Road; Yellowhill EB Rep: Lloyd Arneach, Co-Chairperson
EBCI Board of Elections
Mailing Address: PO Box 1837, Cherokee, NC 28719
Physical Address: 808 Acquoni Road (Ginger Lynn Welch Complex), Cherokee, NC 28719
Phone: 828-359-6361 or 6362