Deschene voted, but not for president

WINDOW ROCK

Former presidential candidate Christopher Clark Deschene voted in Tuesday’s general election.

But, he left the presidential portion of his ballot blank.

His social media site on Facebook served as evidence that he exercised his right to vote, but it also revealed how he voted neither for Navajo Nation President-elect Russell Begaye or Joe Shirley, Jr.

“I never conceded my vote,” Deschene said Wednesday by telephone.

He added that casting a vote was not just simply a form of protest, but ensured his right to possibly vote in a recall on the presidency of Begaye and his running mate, Jonathan Nez.

Though he didn’t say a recall would happen, Deschene offered that it’s an option for the Navajo public, specifically members of the vocal Navajo Voter’s Rights Coalition.
“Voters have that right and option,” the 43-year-old said. “It’s a possibility.”

Asked where the idea of mobilizing for a recall comes from, Deschene reiterated how it’s an option and that most members of the coalition voted in the election in order to have that chance, should it arise.

“He (Begaye) doesn’t have a mandate but the whole election is reflective of that,” Deschene said, referring to the low voter turnout of nearly 41,000 voters.

The low voter turnout, which Edison Wauneka, executive director for the Navajo Election Administration, put at about 37 percent of 130,000 Navajo registered voters in this special election, also explains that people want change, Deschene said.

“I think that compared to all elections for presidency, it’s a low turnout,” he added.

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