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CEC says GOP to take care of primary election
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Posted on May 17 2009
The Commonwealth Election Commission disclosed Friday that, except for providing a record of registered voters, it will play no role in the upcoming primary poll of the local Republican Party.
Commission chair Frances M. Sablan said all preparations will be performed and completed by the party itself.
On June 27, the ticket of former governor Juan N. Babauta and Galvin Deleon Guerrero will face the team of Heinz Hofschneider and Arnold Palacios in a primary poll that will determine the official party standard bearer in the gubernatorial race in November.
“The commission could only provide them the available record and information of registered voters…but the party would do all the necessary preparations,” she told Saipan Tribune.
Sablan said the commission is not in charge of the primary election.
She conceded the commission’s lack of manpower would also hinder its desire to assist the GOP.
Beginning this month, CEC will place a logistics unit at the Price Costco to encourage community members to register. A commission employee will man the Price Costco booth every Saturday through the registration deadline on Sept. 18.
Saipan Tribune learned that the outreach unit usually gathers 15 percent of total voters during a general election.
Sablan also disclosed that it will be the GOP that will designate the polling places for the primary.
“The polling places may also be designated by the party itself,” Sablan said.
CEC, she added, will try to “stay away” from the primary election.
The commission recorded 13,454 registered voters as of May 1. Some 15,000 or more are expected to vote in the gubernatorial race.
The commission chairwoman admitted that only a small portion of total registered voters usually participate in primary elections.
“What the party usually does is they identify local members and encourage them to participate and vote in the primary,” Sablan said.
Whoever emerges victorious in the June 27 GOP primary would face the tandems of Benigno R. Fitial-Eloy Inos, Covenant Party; Juan T. Guerrero-Joseph Camacho, Independent; and Ramon Guerrero-David Borja, Independent.
