Ute Mountain Ute tribal members will elect a tribal chairman, two council delegates and a White Mesa, Utah, representative on Friday.
Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Community Center in Towaoc and at the Recreation Center in White Mesa, Utah.
The seats up for election are now held by Tribal Chairman Manuel Heart, council member Priscilla Blackhawk-Rentz, councilor Regina Lopez Whiteskunk, and White Mesa representative Malcolm Lehi.
Candidates for chairman are incumbent Manuel Heart and challenger Harold Cuthair. Candidates for council seats are Angelita Berry, Colleen Cuthair-Root, Bradley Hight, Prisllena Rabbit, Priscilla Blackhawk-Rentz and Lyndreth Wall and Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk.
For the White Mesa representative, the candidates are incumbent Malcolm Lehi and challenger Elaine Cantsee.
White Mesa voters will vote only for chairman and the White Mesa representative. For the Colorado portion of the tribe, the two candidates with the highest vote counts will earn delegate seats.
Absentee balloting for the election will be allowed for nonresident voters and voters who will not be able to show up in person at the polling place on the day of election to cast their vote. The deadline to request an official notarized absentee ballot form in writing has passed.
Tribal governmental offices will close at noon Friday, Election Day. Regular office hours will resume at 8 a.m. on Oct. 17.
