November 3 Voting in Lame Deer: Three Voting Processes and Two Reported Polling-Place Changes

November 2, 2026 | Truth in Focus — Election Information

By Steven Bullcoming Haworth | Collaborator: Corry Bullcoming Haworth

LAME DEER, Montana — With Election Day approaching on Tuesday, November 3, Northern Cheyenne voters face an unusual situation. Three separate voting processes are being discussed in the community: Montana’s state and federal general election, a Tribal Council election announced by a Council-associated office, and another tribal election effort associated with Gene Small’s office.

These are not necessarily the same ballots, polling arrangements, or election administrators. The dispute over tribal governmental authority remains important, and the existence of competing election notices does not establish that each process has the same legal standing.

Two polling places listed as changed

A revised Northern Cheyenne election notice dated October 29, reviewed by Truth in Focus, identifies two changes for the Tribal Council election announced by the Council-associated office.

In Lame Deer, the revised notice lists the Wellness Center behind the Lube Center on Cheyenne Avenue instead of the Little Wolf Capitol Building. In Busby, it lists the Northern Cheyenne Tribal School cafeteria instead of the Busby Fire Hall. The notice continues to identify community halls in Ashland, Birney, and Muddy and lists voting hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

These changes differ from the earlier information published in Buffalo’s Fire on October 20. The October 29 Council-associated announcement cites concerns about election interference, but Truth in Focus has not independently established that interference occurred. A copy of the October 29 polling-location document is publicly available.

What about Little Wolf?

For Montana’s state and federal general election, the Vote in Montana Rosebud County guide lists the Little Wolf Tribal Building at 600 Cheyenne Avenue as an Election Day polling location, with hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters should confirm their assigned polling place through Rosebud County election officials because state election arrangements are separate from tribal elections.

Truth in Focus has also received information that an election effort associated with Gene Small’s office plans to use the Little Wolf Capitol Building. We have not independently obtained a current signed notice confirming that effort’s final polling arrangements or hours.

The competing tribal election plans arise from a broader governmental dispute involving court decisions, Council actions, and Gene Small’s challenge to his removal. Those legal questions cannot be resolved by a social-media announcement alone. The existence of a proposed voting process should not be taken as confirmation of its legal authority.

What voters need to know

Anyone planning to vote Tuesday should verify which election they intend to participate in, the applicable eligibility rules, and the location and hours provided by that election’s administrators. The Montana election and the competing tribal election processes should not be confused with one another.

For the Council-associated tribal election, the published Northern Cheyenne Election Ordinance describes an absentee-application deadline of 4:30 p.m. on the last business day before the election, ordinarily Monday, November 2. The relevant election office should confirm any current amendments or procedures. That deadline should not be assumed to apply to Montana’s general election or a separate tribal voting effort.

Truth in Focus has requested further clarification from tribal election officials and welcomes dated notices, official corrections, and supporting records from all parties. Given the short time before voting, residents should verify their polling details directly before traveling.

Source documents: Northern Cheyenne Election Ordinance | October 29 polling-location document | October 29 Council-associated announcement | Rosebud County voter guide | Buffalo’s Fire election report, October 20.

Byline: Steven Bullcoming Haworth | Collaborator: Corry Bullcoming Haworth