SIX NATIONS — The Six Nations Citizenship Code was approved nearly 2:1 on Saturday in a referendum vote.
Paper ballots from the May 25 advance poll and Saturday’s regular poll were tallied just minutes after the 6:00 p.m. close.
Those ballots were added to the results of the online poll which also closed at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.
The final tally was 414 for and 196 against.
In total 612 votes were cast online, in person in the advance and regular polls. Two ballots were spoiled.
The early poll saw 66 ballots cast; 48-yes and 18-no. The regular poll counted 157 ballots cast; with 109 yes votes and 46 no votes.
Online votes were counted as 389 ballots cast; 257 yes and 132 no.
Officials verifying the vote determined the Citizenship Code was approved. Six Nations Lands and Resources Director Lonny Bomberry told TRT the code and vote results would head to Six Nations Elected Council to be ratified. Persons who wish to appeal the vote result have five days from the polls closing to submit an appeal. Officials with One Feather said the appeal would have to be on substantive grounds such as access to voters being obstructed or a confusing ballot.
The total number of persons who participated in this referendum vote is up from Six Nations last referendum vote in 2015 — which saw 557 ballots cast.
