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Official Documents
On May 26, 2026 — Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery and Arlinda Locklear formally wrote to the Elections Board raising serious concerns about the June 23 ballot.
The most important line in this letter:
"The Tribal Council acted with full knowledge of the proposed changes. The current form of the ballot does not provide the same information to the Lumbee voters."
Millicent Brewer, Chairperson
Lumbee Tribe Elections Board
P.O. Box 1799
Pembroke, NC 28372
Re: June 23, 2026, Special Election
May 26, 2026
Dear Ms. Brewer:
We write on behalf of a coalition of Lumbee tribal members and voters who have concerns about the vote scheduled for June 23, 2026, to amend the Lumbee Tribe's Constitution. We deem our Tribe's Constitution to be the most sacred expression of our people's sovereign will regarding the creation of, and exercise of powers by, branches of tribal government and tribal officials. As stated in the Constitution's Preamble: "In accordance with the inherent power of self-governance of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina ("Tribe"), the Tribe adopts this Constitution for the purposes of establishing a tribal government structure, preserving for all time the Lumbee way of life and community, promoting the educational, cultural, social and economic well-being of Lumbee people, and securing justice and freedom for the Lumbee people." To emphasize the paramount importance of the Lumbee people in the tribal government created by the Constitution, Article III, section 1, further provides, "Those powers not delegated herein are reserved by the general membership of the Tribe."
Because of these fundamental concepts, proposing amendments to the Tribe's Constitution is a serious undertaking, one that requires thoughtfulness and care. This is particularly true where, as with the proposed amendments scheduled for vote on June 23, the proposed amendments would diminish power granted by the Constitution to the general membership and increase powers delegated to the legislative and executive branches of tribal government.
Guided by these principles, we have examined the proposed ballot to be submitted to a vote on June 23 and believe it falls far below the required standard of clarity and transparency that is necessary. Generally, it fails to inform the Lumbee electorate of how the Constitution would be revised. Specifically, we raise the following concerns:
1. Article I, Section 1 — proposes to expand the Tribe's territory. It includes language in bold for that purpose but fails to inform the voter that the bold language is in addition to that which now appears in the Constitution.
2. Article VII, Section 1 — proposes to expand the powers of the legislative branch. Again, it includes language in bold for that purpose but does not inform the voter that the bold language is in addition to that which now appears in the Constitution. Also, the proposed amendment does not identify where the additional language would appear in the revised Constitution — is it a proposed addition to an existing subsection or is it a new subsection? If the former, it does not identify which subsection is amended; if the latter, it does not identify where the new subsection would appear.
3. Article VIII, Section 1 — proposes to alter the tribal members' right to participate in a referendum on anything affecting "fundamental interests," a right now guaranteed in the Constitution. Of most concern to us, it fails to inform the voter that language now appearing in the Constitution will be deleted — not only the now guaranteed right to approve a tribal ordinance authorizing gaming by referendum but also the now guaranteed right of the membership to approve by referendum any ordinance certified by the Chairman as affecting fundamental rights of membership. All that would remain of this right now held by the Lumbee membership would be the right to approve an ordinance imposing a tax. There is nothing in the proposed ballot that informs the voter of this major change.
4. Article VIII, Section 1 — delegates to the Chairman wide-ranging power over the negotiation of a gaming compact and tribal agencies that would govern gaming. Again, this contains bold language stating this new delegation but does not indicate whether this is a new subsection (and where it might appear) or an amendment to an existing subsection.
For these reasons, we believe the proposed ballot does not provide the clarity or information that Lumbee voters need to make an informed decision about whether to support or oppose the proposed amendments. Much of this can be remedied by providing a ballot that gives the current language of the stated articles, striking through language that would be deleted, and bolding language to be added.
It is worth noting that the exhibit attached to the Tribal Council Resolution proposing the amendments does contain this additional information; as a result, the Tribal Council acted with full knowledge of the proposed changes. The current form of the ballot does not provide the same information to the Lumbee voters.
In the absence of a revised ballot along suggested above and contained in the Tribal Council Resolution exhibit, Lumbee voters are not given a meaningful opportunity to exercise their power of self-governance regarding the proposed amendments.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery — Chair
Arlinda Locklear — Vice-Chair
VoteNo: DemandBetter Committee
Share this letter with every Lumbee member you know
Every eligible Lumbee voter deserves to cast a fully informed vote on June 23.
VOTE NO. DEMAND BETTER!! →🚨
Monday June 22 at 6PM
📍 662 Highland Games Road, Red Springs, NC
🌭 Hot dogs will be served
Arlinda Locklear · Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery
Rick Barton · Colonel Lynn Locklear · & Others
Last chance before the vote. Bring your questions. Get real answers.