Secretarial Election Results

A Secretarial Election was held on November 29, 2022, with three proposed amendments to the Red Cliff Constitution and Bylaws. The proposed amendments would remove federal oversight over the Tribe's ability to amend its own constitution. See below for election results.

Proposed Amendment A
Votes for: 162
Votes against: 31
Spoiled ballots: 0

Proposed Amendment A is adopted, and will amend the Preamble by removing reference to the Secretary of the Interior's approval of the 1991 revised Constitution and clarifying that the revised Constitution supersedes the Red Cliff Band's 1936 Constitution. The Preamble shall be amended to read as follows:

PREAMBLE
We, the members of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in the State of Wisconsin, in order to re-establish our tribal organization; to conserve our tribal property; to develop our common resources; to promote the welfare of ourselves and our descendants; to form business and other organizations; to enjoy certain rights of home rule; and to provide for our people education in vocational and trade schools and institutions of higher learning, do ordain and establish this constitution and by-laws. This revised Constitution, adopted and approved on February 15, 1991, shall supersede the Constitution that was adopted and approved on June 1, 1936, in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934, as amended.

Proposed Amendment B
Votes for: 161
Votes against: 31
Spoiled ballots: 0

Proposed Amendment B is adopted, and will amend Article IX - Amendments by removing the Secretary of the Interior from calling future elections and approving amendments to the Constitution. Future elections would be Tribal elections and held under tribal authority. Article IX - Amendments, shall be amended to read as follows:

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendment by Tribal Council. Amendments to this Constitution and Bylaws may be proposed by the Tribal Council. Proposed amendments agreed to by seven members of the Tribal Council shall be placed on the ballot at the next General election by order of the Chairperson.

Section 2. Amendment by Petition. Amendments to this Constitution and Bylaws may be proposed by petition of the members eligible to vote. The petition shall include the full text of the proposed amendment and signed by not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of voters in the last Red Cliff annual General election, according to tribal law. The Chairperson shall order the amendment to be placed on the ballot at the next General election.

Section 3. Any election called for the purpose of amending the Constitution and Bylaws shall be conducted according to tribal law by the Election Board. The Red Cliff Code of Laws shall set forth election procedures.

This Constitution and Bylaws may only be amended through a majority vote of eligible voters. Ratified amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws shall become effective thirty (30) days after certification of the final election results.

Proposed Amendment C
Votes for: 154
Votes against: 39
Spoiled ballots: 0

Proposed Amendment C is adopted, and will amend the Constitution and Bylaws for the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin by striking Article XVI - Adoption of Constitution and Bylaws in entirety thereby removing the description of the adoption of the 1991 revised Constitution. The Constitution and Bylaws shall be amended by striking from it Article XVI - Adoption of Constitution and Bylaws, as follows:

ARTICLE XVI - ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
This constitution and by-laws, when ratified by a majority of the qualified voters of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, voting at a special election called for the purpose by the Secretary of the Interior, PROVIDED that at least thirty percent (30%) of the qualified voters shall vote in such election, shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Interior, and if approved, shall be effective from the date of approval.


Questions about this Secretarial Election can be directed to the Tribal Administration Building and the Elections Committee by calling 715-779-3700.