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Over 1.4K absentee ballots sent out today
The Office of the Public Auditor has so far verified over 1,400 requested absentee ballots that the Commonwealth Election Commission will be sending out starting today. As of this week, the number of requested absentee ballots has reached 1,451.
This means those who asked for absentee ballots should receive those ballots starting next week.
Commonwealth Election Commission election clerk Franklin B. Camacho carries a box of absentee ballots that will be mailed out starting today. The Office of the Public Auditor has verified over 1,400 of these requested absentee ballots that are expected to reach absentee voters in seven to 10 days. (Haidee V. Eugenio)
OPA auditor Wilma Atalig spent hours at the election commission office in Susupe yesterday for the absentee ballot verification.
The over 1,400 requested absentee ballots were lower than the 1,800 requested in previous general elections. But this year, the number of registered voters is breaking records at nearly 18,000 as of this week.
“The lower absentee ballots could mean a lot of things,” Guerrero said.
These include, for example, having fewer CNMI residents wanting to participate in the elections or more residents are now in the CNMI so there’s no need for them to ask for absentee ballots.
Meanwhile, Guerrero said the election commission now has the 22,000 general election ballots, along with the ballots for the special election. Both will be held on Nov. 4.
The CNMI is also headed for a third election in November. If none of the four gubernatorial teams garner at least 50 percent plus one of the votes cast, then there will be a gubernatorial runoff race.
