Updated – July 1, 2011, 1:25 p.m.:

The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court on Friday morning issued a ruling making official the recount that showed challenging councilman Bill John Baker as the victor in the June 25th election for principal chief.

Incumbent, and apparently outgoing, chief Chad Smith questioned the recount results and is expected to file a challenge.

The election commission attorney said the recount included 269 absentee ballots not calculated into the original tally.

Previously: June 30, 2011

STILWELL, Okla. - The saga of the race to become Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma encountered another twist Thursday night after a recount showed that councilman Bill John Baker received a majority of the votes during the June 25th election.

The Cherokee Nation Election Commission declared Baker the victor over four-term incumbent Chad Smith by an overwhelming 266 votes. The final tally showed Baker with a total of 7,613 votes and Smith with 7,347.

Thursday's announcement is the third time the election commission declared a winner in the race. The commission initially declared Baker the winner by 11 votes on June 26th before reversing its decision the following day, declaring Smith the official winner by seven votes.

The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma Supreme Court ordered a recount Wednesday.