Participate in casino survey

This is just to encourage the voters of Saipan to exercise their rights to help determine what they want in and from the government. The Current Issues class, with the technical advice of the executive director of the Commonwealth Election Commission and the Office of the Public Auditor as well as the Attorney General, will be conducting a nonbinding referendum on Nov. 4 on whether or not the people of Saipan wish to have casinos on the island.

It is extremely important, because this can be termed a hot button issue, that we have maximum turnout on Nov. 4, 2011. I would like to encourage government and private sector leaders to help us encourage a high voter turnout. We are not advocating any particular result. On the contrary, the voting will be carried out in strict accordance with Commonwealth election policies. The students of the Current Issues class have received training in the conduct of the election and the impartiality factor has been emphasized. We hope that we will receive support in getting the maximum turnout possible.

Since this is not an election for personalities, historically turnout has been low. We hope we can turn that around but we can’t do it alone.

The students have been working all semester on this event and we are hoping that the voting population of Saipan, i.e. registered voters, will turn out and express their will as advice to the government.

In order to keep costs down, only four voting places have been selected around the island for Nov. 4. These are: Kagman Community Center; Multipurpose Center in Susupe; the Legislature building on Capital Hill; and, Northern Marianas College classroom D1. The polls will be open from 8am to 5pm. Polling sites were selected, with the advice of the executive director of the Commonwealth Election Commission, in order to incorporate several traditional voter precincts. Voters should check the newspapers and posters that are being distributed around the island to be sure to go to the correct polling place.

Early voting, for those who are not able to come on the Citizenship Day holiday. Nov. 4, will be conducted on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, and Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, from 8am to 12pm in classroom D 1, across from the NMC bookstore. Voters are reminded to bring an identification card.

Sam McPhetres
Project adviser
NMC Current Issues Class