Navajo Nation votes today for a new president, with three chapter houses closed and voters sent to new polling sites

L2Who’s affected

Smith Lake, Chinle, Shiprock, Tíístoh Síkáad and Rockpoint voters go to new sites; all other polling locations remain at their chapter houses, and the Navajo Election Administration encouraged voters to confirm where they vote (Gallup Today). In the July 21 primary, 49,274 of 142,912 registered voters cast ballots, a turnout of 34.48% (Navajo Times).

L3Why it’s quiet

Analysis · OVERLOOKED Coverage has come from Navajo and regional outlets, on an Election Day dominated by the national midterms; see the O-Score receipts.

L4Deeper impact

Six days before the vote, officials had yet to secure a polling place for Shiprock Chapter, while flood-damaged roads, staffing shortages and unpaid bills complicated preparations (Navajo Times). Replacement sites had been secured for Chinle and Burnham at that point (Navajo Times). Delegates will take office in January under a reapportioned district map (Navajo-Hopi Observer).

L5Full context

Both tickets advanced from a 16-candidate July 21 primary in which President Buu Nygren was eliminated (Navajo-Hopi Observer). In the certified results, Jones finished first with 15,098 votes, or 30.94%, and Curley second with 8,670, or 17.77%; Nygren placed third with 7,430 and did not win any of the Nation’s five agencies (Navajo Times). Curley would be the first woman elected Navajo president (Navajo-Hopi Observer). Jones said voters keep raising the same concerns: "We need change" (Navajo Times). Related: our story navajo-nation-shiprock-san-juan-river-major-flood-warning.

You’ve reached the bottom. Read the original reporting below.