Election panel names polling sites for 2012 election

The Commonwealth Election Commission approved yesterday the designation of 13 areas as official polling sites for the Nov. 6, 2012, midterm elections.

Its board of directors, led by chair Frances Sablan, approved the baker’s dozen precinct polling stations and directed the commission to start all preparations for the election.

The polling stations for each precinct level include Hopwood Junior High School, Dandan Elementary School, and Koblerville Youth Center for precinct 1 voters. This precinct covers voters from San Antonio, San Vicente, and Koblerville area.

For precinct 2 voters, which hail from Chalan Kanoa and Susupe, the official polling station is the Joeten Kiyu Public Library.

The Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium and the Garapan Elementary School’s northern side, meanwhile, will accommodate voters from precinct 3, which encompasses Oleai and Garapan.

For precinct 4 voters, official polling stations are the Tanapag Youth Center, the Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, Jesus P. Mafnas Legislative Building, and the Northern Islands. Precinct 4 voters are from Tanapag, San Roque, Capital Hill, and the Northern Islands.

The Kagman Community Center will be the official polling site for voters in precinct 5, which covers residents of Kagman, while Tinian Elementary School remains the official polling station for precinct 6. For Rota, the Northern Marianas College campus will accommodate voters on the island.

According to Election Commission executive director Robert Guerrero, registration for the midterm election is ongoing. As of Oct. 14 last year, voters’ statistics from the agency was at 15,338: Saipan has 12,527 registered voters, Tinian has 1,367, and Rota has 1,444.

Guerrero said yesterday that the early designation of polling stations signals the start of the sites’ maintenance and for early voting activities.

He said the commission will conduct early voting for Northern Islands residents 45 days prior to election day. Early voting for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota will be 10 days prior to Nov. 6. The designated polling sites for early voting are the Pedro Tenorio Multipurpose Center for Saipan and Department of Public Safety for the two islands.

Guerrero and board chair Sablan told Saipan Tribune that the commission will send staff to Tinian and Rota for the conduct of early voting. Assistance will also be provided by the police, as well as by the Office of the Attorney General and Office of the Public Auditor.