Members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians will vote again for chief on September 6.

Phyliss J. Anderson was declared the winner of the July 5 election. Incumbent Beasley Denson conceded the race to the first woman to lead the tribe.

But at a council meeting on Friday morning, the results were thrown out due to alleged irregularities. Denson cast the tie-breaking vote to order a new election -- Anderson, who sits on the council, voted against it.

"This is simply an attempt to steal our election. The Choctaw voters elected a new chief to lead our tribe and clean up the financial mess," Anderson said in a statement.

"The most important thing for our Tribe is the protection of our sovereignty and our sovereignty can only be maintained if our election process is conducted pursuant to election protocol and fairly," Denson said in response.

Get the Story:
Many Choctaws shocked over election being thrown out (WLBT-TV 7/9)
New election ordered for chief (The Hattiesburg American 7/9)
New Choctaw chief election ordered (AP 7/*)

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Editorial: Mississippi Choctaws make history with woman leader (7/8)
First woman to lead Mississippi Choctaws wants to be called chief (7/7)
Mississippi Choctaws pick Phyliss Anderson as first woman chief (7/6)
Mississippi Choctaw chief and top rival head to run-off in July (6/16)
Unofficial results from election for Mississippi Choctaw chief (6/15)
Another candidate enters Mississippi Choctaw chief race (4/21)
Candidate for Mississippi Choctaw chief challenges incumbent (3/22)