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CEC issues timeline for delegate wannabes
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Posted on May 12 2008
The Commonwealth Election Commission has issued a timeline for individuals wishing to be the first Northern Marianas delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.
The landmark election will take place on Nov. 4, 2008, coinciding with the general election in the United States.
CEC executive director Gregorio Sablan said the commission would accept nominating petitions and candidacy documents from July 7 to Aug. 6.
The ongoing voter registration will continue until Sept. 15, 2008.
Voters who will be off island on election day may request absentee ballots from Sept. 5 to Oct. 25. But the last day for requests for emergency absentee voting is Nov. 3, 2008.
The absentee ballots will be counted and tabulated on Nov. 18, exactly two weeks after the day of the election.
The new CNMI delegate will assume office on Jan. 12, 2009.
All CNMI registered voters may participate in the delegate election.
Some of the individuals reportedly interested in running for delegate are Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio, Finance Secretary Eloy Inos, former Attorney General and currently private attorney Robert Torres, Associate Judge Juan Lizama, and the Election Comission’s Sablan, who said that he has an exploratory committee “seriously considering” his candidacy.
President George W. Bush signed last week the act granting congressional representation to the Northern Marianas. The commonwealth is the last U.S. insular area to get a delegate in Congress.
Under the delegate act, Northern Marianas will have a representative with limited voting powers to the U.S. House of Representatives. Similar to House members and other delegates, the CNMI delegate will be elected to Congress every two years. He can serve on committees, as well as vote on legislation at the committee level. But floor voting will not be permitted.
