UPDATE ON AKWESASNE ELECTION LAW PETITION

At the most recent MCA General Meeting, held on February 27, 2025, a petition was presented calling for an amendment to Section 16 of the Akwesasne Election Law. Pursuant to the Akwesasne Legislative Enactment Procedural Regulations (ALEPR), Section 4.6, for the petition to pass, signatures of 75 eligible voters from each of the three districts (225 total) are required. Each signature is to be verified as an eligible voter by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Cheryl Jacobs.  
 
The CEO has confirmed that the petition successfully met the requirements of the ALEPR with 265 eligible voters’ signatures.  
 
The Oversight Committee on Legislative Development (OSC) is now tasked with addressing the community petition while ensuring that the Law Amendment process of the ALEPR is followed thoroughly.  However, as of March 4, 2025, the OSC is now short a representative from the District of Tsi Snáihne. As per section 6.3 of the Oversight Committee Terms of Reference, “in order to conduct business for the Oversight Committee, a quorum of three Oversight Committee members is necessary.” To rectify this situation, the OSC is currently conducting a community callout to have the seat filled to allow for the continuance of its duties.   
 
For more information, please contact the Akwesasne Justice Department’s Legislative Services Manager, Alyson Thompson, at 613-575-5000 ext. 2406 or at alyson.thompson@akwesasne.ca.