Aug 27 2025 CTWS Adoption Election - KWSO Our People & Mother Earth Podcast

Absentee Ballots have been sent to all eligible Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Tribal Member voters, on and off the Warm Springs Reservation, for the August 27th Adoption Election. Everyone was sent a ballot in the mail as there are 198 individuals listed who have applied to become Tribal Members through the adoption process – and it takes some time to complete your voting. The envelope has a return address of Ryder Election Services. Inside – there are 2 pages, double sided with the names of applicants to become Tribal Members. Also included is blood quantum for Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs as well as Overall Indian Blook. Parent name and Grand Parent names are also listed. The mailing has a secrecy sleeve and a return envelope that includes postage. There is a requirement for 50% of eligible Tribal Member voters to participate in voting for the election to be valid. Previous attempts to hold a valid Adoption Election have failed due to not enough voter turnout. So there is a significant effort to encourage participation in the voting process. Resolution 13,237 was approved by Tribal Council on July 14, 2025 setting the Adoption Election in motion following the cancellation of an election in June due to faulty ballots. This program includes the names of the 198 Tribal Member applicants: To be eligible for the adoption list, an individual must have at least one of Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs blood descend from a tribal member or former member of the tribe reside upon the reservation at least three years prior to application for adoption, not enrolled in any other tribe, and receive a majority of the vote in an adoption referendum.