ANADARKO, Okla. – The results of a western Oklahoma tribe’s election are heading to a Bureau of Indian Affairs courtroom.

On Thursday night, Brenda Shemayme Edwards filed a challenge to the results of the Caddo Nation’s election that was conducted Saturday by a court appointed administrator.

In her pleading, Edwards asks that the unofficial results be thrown out and a new election held because at least 30 Caddo voters were either denied the right to cast a ballot at a polling place or never received an absentee ballot despite submitting a request by the deadline. Edwards finished 11 votes behind the unofficial winner, Tamara Francis.

“Given the margin of victory in each of the contested positions, these votes could have had a significant effect on the outcome of the election,” Edwards’ attorney, Eugene Bertman, wrote. “The issues with this election denied these members the right to vote, had a substantial effect on the election and would have affected the outcome.”

Thanks to a protracted leadership schism within the tribe, CFR Judge Ronald McGee with the Southern Plains’ Court of Indian Offenses declared all elected positions within the Caddo Nation vacant in October and for the tribe to conduct a special election within 60 days or “as soon thereafter as possible.” Prior to the order, two separate governments – one led by Edwards and another working out of the tribe’s complex – claimed to be the legitimate authority of the Caddo Nation.

Jason Glidewell, an Anadarko based attorney, was named by court order to oversee the election, with each faction allowed one watcher in the tally room. Prior to the election, Glidewell was a court-appointed special master over the tribe’s finances.

As of the close of business Friday, a hearing date for Edwards’ challenge has not yet been scheduled.

Headquartered in Binger, Okla., the Caddo Nation has about 5,500 enrolled citizens.