5.2.3.010 Nominations.
(a) Self-Nomination.
(1) Any qualified member of the Pueblo may submit his or her name in writing to the Election Commission as a candidate for elective office, along with a non-refundable fee of $25.
(2) The Election Commission shall prepare and make publically available a Candidate Nomination form which shall include a release permitting the Election Commission to conduct a criminal background check on each candidate as required by the Agreement. The Election Commission shall use its best efforts to conduct candidate criminal background checks in a timely manner. The Election Commission shall conduct all criminal background checks in accordance with Section 2 (d) of the Agreement which states:
The Election Commission shall conduct criminal background checks on all candidates and the results shall be made available to any enrolled Member of the Pueblo.
(b) Nomination Period.
(1) Nominations of persons seeking elective office shall be accepted by the Election Commission beginning September 1st each year. Nominations for elective office shall be closed on September 15th of each year.
(2) The Election Commission shall establish and publically post the dates and deadlines for acceptance of nominations of persons seeking elective office in Special Elections to fill vacancies.
(3) The Election Commission shall publicly post the dates and deadlines for acceptance of nominations of persons seeking elective office for the First Election.
(c) Candidate List.
(1) The Election Commission shall prepare and post a preliminary list of candidates within three (3) days of the closing of the nomination period.
(2) From the date of the posting of the preliminary list of candidates through September 30th, the Election Commission shall accept any written challenges to the qualifications of any candidate or candidates on the preliminary list of candidates. The Election Commission shall make written determinations on any such candidate challenges no later than October 10th of each year. The Election Commission shall post the final list of candidates no later than October 15th of each year.
(3) In the First Election, upon the close of the nomination period, the Election Commission shall prepare and post a final list of candidates and a final list of voters for the First Election.
