Go out and vote today

With a record-breaking 17,986 registered voters in the CNMI and 102 candidates vying for various positions, thousands are heading to the polls today, Tuesday, to make their voices heard in the general elections and a special election for a third Saipan senatorial seat.

Political observers are expecting a likely gubernatorial runoff race to follow a few days later as it is difficult in a four-way gubernatorial race for the highest vote-getter to get at least 50 percent plus one of the total votes cast.

Voters will elect today the governor, the lieutenant governor, the delegate to the U.S. Congress, the attorney general, senators, House of Representatives members, mayors, municipal councilors, and Board of Education members. They will also vote on the retention of three members of the NMI Judiciary and on three proposed changes to the NMI Constitution.

Polling stations will open at 7am and close at 7pm.

Commonwealth Election Commission executive director Robert A. Guerrero said yesterday that they are ready for today’s elections. He said they already put up booths at all polling stations and that poll workers are trained for their respective tasks.

He said close to 3,000 voters opted for the seven-day early voting that ended yesterday.

For the Northern Islands, Guerrero said a boat has already left Saipan to get the votes from eight registered voters on Pagan and two voters on Alamagan. He said the boat should return to Saipan late morning today, Tuesday.

The total budget for the elections, including the possible runoff, is $120,000.

Guerrero urged voters to come out and exercise their right to vote. He advised them to drive and walk carefully because the roads are slippery due to the rain.

Incumbent governor Eloy S. Inos (GOP) is running for re-election with Senate President Ralph DLG. Torres as his running mate. The Inos-Torres tandem is facing independent challengers Heinz S. Hofschneider and Juan Nekai Babauta, and Democratic challenger Edward M. Deleon Guerrero.

Saipan senator Ray N. Yumul (Ind) is Hofschneider’s running mate, while former senator Juan Sablan Torres is the running mate of former governor Babauta. Former representative Daniel O. Quitugua is the running mate of Deleon Guerrero.

When Benigno R. Fitial was re-elected in 2009 under the Covenant Party for a five-year term, Inos was his running mate. Fitial, however, resigned in February 2013 in the face of impeachment hearings, making Inos governor.

Inos then merged the Covenant Party with the Republican Party.

For the delegate position, incumbent Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind) is seeking a third term. He is being challenged by former territorial representative and Commerce secretary Andrew Salas (Dem).

Today will also be the first time for voters to elect an attorney general. Former Superior Court presiding judge Edward Manibusan and attorney Michael Norita Evangelista are the only contenders.

Voters will also be answering three referendum questions, including an amendment to Article 12, which restricts the ownership of land in the CNMI to persons of Northern Marianas descent.

The special election will be for a third Saipan senatorial seat, to fill the Saipan seat left vacant after Ray Yumul resigned from the position to run with Hofschneider.

Running for the Senate’s special election are Sixto Igisomar (GOP), Roy Taisacan Rios (Ind), and Jesus M. Castro (Ind).

Early voting

The Democratic gubernatorial tandem of Deleon Guerrero and Quitugua opted to vote early yesterday afternoon at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.

The two cast their respective ballots around 2pm, with several supporters tagging along.

Deleon Guerrero said they chose to vote early due to the inclement weather and to avoid the heavy rain today.

When asked about their prospects, Quitugua said: “Well, we did everything we could to educate the public so we respect the decision of the people and I just hope that people will realize that we will change and we are offering those change.”

With four gubernatorial bets in the running this year, a runoff election is likely to occur and when asked if they see themselves in the runoff election, Deleon Guerrero said yes.

Quitugua was more cautious, saying it will be determined by the results of the voting.

“We’ll just have to wait until people have spoken and you look at what options are present,” Quitugua said.

Officers deployed

Department of Public Safety Commissioner James C. Deleon Guerrero said they have already initiated the operational plans for the elections under the command of Sgt. Jose Saures.

Deleon Guerrero said there will be police officers deployed at all polling stations throughout the CNMI.

For Tinian and Rota, which usually experience a shortage of police manpower during elections, DPS Saipan may fly down some officers to the two islands, Deleon Guerrero said.

He said two of their task force officers are part of the Office of the Public Auditor team that has been assisting the Commonwealth Election Commission since the early voting process.

He said this is to ensure that they fulfill the people’s mandate to make sure that there will be free and fair election process.

The Commonwealth Election Commission has 10 days to certify the election results of the Nov. 4 voting. (With Jayson Camacho)