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Appeal Expected In Navajo Election Delay

The Navajo Nation's elections director says he plans to appeal a court decision that said officials couldn't move forward with Tuesday's belated tribal presidential contest.

Elections director Edison Wauneka says officials don't believe that Window Rock District Judge Carol Perry had the power to overturn a tribal Supreme Court order that called for the election to be held Tuesday.

Perry ruled the law is clear that a referendum vote on language requirements for the presidency must be held before Navajos choose their next leader.

Wauneka says he hopes to get the Supreme Court to review the matter in time for the election to take place Tuesday.

Tribal lawmakers passed to fund a referendum that essentially would eliminate a Navajo language fluency requirement for the tribe's top two posts.

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