Consensus reached on several Amendments to Election Law

06/19/2014

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) would like to inform Kahnawa’kehró:non that consensus was reached last evening on several proposed amendments to the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke Election Law. Time ran out before the remaining two questions could be presented for discussion. The decisions made are as follows:

1. Candidates must declare all of his/her private business holdings

2. Better clarity to wording in section that indicates that a candidate must not have been removed from office in the term immediately before the current election

3. Criteria added regarding to indicate that three summary convictions in the six year period previous to the election will result in a candidate being disallowed from running. Previously, only indictable offences were included in the law

4. Amendments to prohibit partisan election campaign advertising at or near the polling location and ensuring no fundraising is carried out at the polling location were passed. Additionally, it was agreed to add the provision that, “The Electoral Officer will ensure that there is no loitering at the polling area entrance”

5. It was agreed that no education criteria be included in the amendments

6. There was a consensus to hold a referendum to decide whether to reduce the number of Chiefs to ten, or maintain the current twelve. It is proposed to hold the referendum this September

“It was a very successful session,” said MCK technician Trina C. Diabo, who has been coordinating the amendment process. “There was a lot of good discussion before consensus was reached. I left feeling a sense of accomplishment and I thought that the community members felt the same way. We didn’t get to the questions on a proposed review board and appeals process, so we’ll save those for next time.”