The vote is Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Voter info and polling locations →
Federal Gaming Standards
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the National Indian Gaming Commission have clear standards for how tribal gaming must be set up. This amendment violates every key one.
Official Statements
All official statements and public communications from our coalition — newest first.
June 26, 2026
The Tribal Council recently held an emergency meeting to explore ways of moving forward with gaming. Whether that happens is up to the Tribe's leadership — the Chairman and the Tribal Council. Lumbees United for Accountability is interested in protecting the members' constitutional right to vote on gaming, up or down, at a referendum. We remain dedicated to protecting that right.
At our historic vote on June 23, Lumbees United for Accountability stood up for our people's right to approve gaming. We still stand firm for that right.
On Monday evening, we presented Joshua Malcolm, counsel for the Lumbee Tribal Council, our ideas on a pathway toward gaming, if tribal leadership chooses to do so and our people approve it. As we told Mr. Malcolm we would do, we are publicly releasing that proposal.
First — a pathway forward on gaming under our Constitution:
The Tribal Council can pass an ordinance authorizing gaming. Our coalition members have individual views about what should be in that ordinance but we have not adopted an official position on what the ordinance should say.
Whatever else the ordinance includes, it should have a final provision titled Effective Date. This provision should say: Upon signature of this ordinance by the Chairman, the ordinance shall be referred to the Tribe's Election Board for the conduct of a referendum on the ordinance by the eligible Lumbee voters. As the Constitution provides, this referendum shall require participation of at least 30% of the eligible Lumbee voters. If the ordinance is approved at that referendum, it shall become effective tribal law thirty days thereafter.
Second — full disclosure:
There should be full disclosure of all documents related to gaming — the land transaction (including the text of the NDA), any contracts or other commitments signed by the Chairman or the Council related to gaming, and the identity of all potential and actual partners, lawyers, and other professionals involved in the proposed casino.
Third — community meetings:
After disclosure of all documents, there should be a series of community meetings or hearings at which tribal government representatives will answer questions.
Above all else, trust must be rebuilt between the tribal government and the Lumbee people. With that, anything is possible. Without that, nothing is possible.
Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery, Chairwoman
Arlinda Locklear, Vice Chairwoman
Lumbees United for Accountability
June 24, 2026
The Lumbee Tribe's Election Board has just certified the results of the special vote held on June 23, 2026, on four proposed amendments to the Lumbee Tribe's Constitution with a single vote on the four as a group. In a clear vote with historic participation by tribal members, the Tribe voted to reject the proposed amendments. As a result, the Tribe's Constitution retains the requirement that a tribal ordinance authorizing gaming requires approval by the eligible Lumbee voters at a referendum.
The June 23 vote was an exercise of the inherent power of self-government that our people hold and that Congress recognized on December 18, 2025, in the Lumbee Fairness Act. We are proud of our people for the vigorous debate on our future and their commitment to voting their values at the June 23 election, whether they voted for or against the amendments. We are confident that same spirit will carry forward into any future referendum on an ordinance authorizing gaming. And the differences among us we debated at the June 23 election were differences on methods only — we all share the goal of advancing the welfare of the Lumbee people.
That shared goal depends upon continued participation and collaboration, rooted in the strength of our ancestors and resilience of our people that got us here today. Should our elected officials choose to enact an ordinance authorizing gaming and conduct a referendum on whether to approve it, as provided under our Constitution, we — as a coalition and as individuals — commit ourselves to contribute in a positive way to that debate and to work toward achieving the required 30% eligible voter participation. We will remain engaged in the debate, and stand ready to partner on building a future driven by the inherent rights and voice of the Lumbee people.
Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery, Chairwoman
Arlinda Locklear, Vice Chairwoman
Lumbees United for Accountability
June 2026 — The Robesonian
Our full-page color advertisement published in The Robesonian newspaper ahead of the June 23 vote — laying out the four amendments, the $6.8M land flip, and our call for accountability.
View Color Ad →June 2026 — The Robesonian
Our full-page black and white advertisement published in The Robesonian newspaper — the same content as the color version, formatted for print.
View B&W Ad →