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Navajos say Utah county wants native candidate off ballot

Salt Lake City • Navajo Nation leaders say a Utah county is trying to keep a native candidate off the ballot during the first election since a federal judge ruled voting districts were drawn based on race.

Navajo Nation vice president, Jonathan Nez, said in statement the threat of possible criminal charges is an “example of the county’s bad-faith attempt to undermine Navajo candidates and disenfranchise voters.”

San Juan County, though, maintained Friday the investigation into whether a county commission candidate, Democrat Willie Grayeyes, lives on the Utah side of the nearby Arizona border is aimed at ensuring fair elections and isn’t related to politics or race.