In what is sure to be a hotly contested issue, the Cherokee Election Commission announced that, contrary to the unofficial results released Saturday evening, Principal Chief Chad Smith did in fact beat challenger Bill John Baker by seven votes (Smith 7,609 to Baker 7,602). The original tally on Saturday showed Baker winning by eleven (Baker 7,600 - Smith 7,589).
There were about 250 challenged ballots, which will be the focal point of an expected recount.
UPDATE: an official recount ended up showing Bill John Baker with 7,613 votes, and Chad Smith with 7,347 - giving a Baker a victory margin of 266 votes. Smith is appealing for an electronic recount.
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