SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah ballot proposition that has reignited a fierce dispute over Navajo voting rights is trailing after the initial tally, but too many votes remained uncounted to make it final.
San Juan County deputy clerk Aspen Draper said Wednesday the measure that could lead to an expansion of the three-person county commission that Navajos recently took control of was trailing by 121 votes. She says 650 ballots need to be counted and an updated tally isn't expected until Friday at the earliest.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez urged voters to reject the measure, saying it would undermine the voice of Navajo voters.
The man behind the proposition, Blanding Mayor Joe Lyman, has said he's advocated for making a five-member commission long before the 2018 election results.
