Tribal Council Candidacy Requirements

To run for the Samish Tribal Council, candidates must meet the eligibility requirements below and complete all filing steps by the stated deadlines. Full legal details are contained in 2026-02-004 Amend 2016-04-010 Election Ordinance Revisions.

Who May Run

• You must be a enrolled citizen of the Samish Indian Nation.
• You must be at least 21 years of age on the date of the election.
• Your primary residence must be within the State of Washington.
• No more than one member of a household may run for office in the same election year.
• Felony convictions disqualify a person from running for Tribal Council.

Background Check Requirement

• All potential candidates must complete a criminal history background check.
• The background check must be completed through an approved agency.
• Background checks are paid for by the candidate.
• Background checks must be received by the Human Resources Department by April 29, 2026.
• Results are confidential and reviewed only to determine eligibility.

How to File for Candidacy

• Candidates must submit a 2026-02-10 Declaration and Affidavit of Candidacy on the official form provided by the Election Board.
• The petition must be signed by at least ten (10) eligible tribal voters.
• Completed petitions must be received by 5 PM on May 14, 2026.
• Petition forms are available on this webpage as well as from the Election Superintendent.