Election board lauded for NMD registry

The election board has earned praise for taking the initiative in registering voters of Northern Marianas descent in preparation for a future vote on the land tenure law.

The House of Representatives yesterday adopted a resolution commending the CNMI Board of Election for its diligence in establishing the NMI Descent Voter Registry.

The House members said the registry would be instrumental during a general election as far as determining who is eligible to vote on any proposed constitutional amendment to Article XII, which restricts land ownership to persons of Northern Marianas descent.

The Commonwealth Election Commission started registering NMD voters in March 2008.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has asked the Election Commission to stop the registration, saying that limiting the vote on Article XII to NMD citizens is a violation of the U.S. Constitution. Fitial has said the registration is divisive and discriminatory.

But the commission has said it will continue to conduct the registration unless told by the courts or the Board of Election.

Several proposals to amend Article XII are pending in the Legislature.

One initiative, already passed by the Senate, would extend the allowable leasehold interest for private lands in the Commonwealth from 55 years to 80 years. The initiative, sponsored by Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo, would also ease the requirements for corporations wishing to buy land in the Commonwealth. Under the initiative, a corporation would be able to own land with only 51 percent of its directors made up of people of Northern Marianas descent, and 51 percent of its stock owned by NMDs.

Another initiative, introduced by Rep. Heinz Hofschneider, would extend the permissible term for private lands leases in the Commonwealth from 55 years to 75 years. It would also allow for existing leasehold agreements to be renegotiated for a new lease term of up 75 years.

Under the Constitution, only voters of Northern Marianas descent may cast votes on a proposed amendment to the land alienation act.

A person is considered of Northern Marianas descent if he or she is a U.S. citizen or national and is of at least one-quarter CNMI Chamorro or Carolinian blood. An adopted child is also considered of Northern Marianas descent if he or she was adopted by a person of Northern Marianas descent while under 18 years old.