Previous Story
Matua Riding Group drums up more voters
Members of the Matua Riding Group gather on their motorcycles for a group photo after several members voted at the Dandan Middle School on Nov. 8, 2016. (Michael T. Santos)
Members of the Matua Riding Group motored their way throughout the island yesterday as a way to encourage members and the entire community to vote in the 2016 general elections.
The motorcycle group has made it a tradition to assemble all its members who are available in order to vote in the election district that members are assigned to.
Pete DeLeon Guerrero, a member of Matua Riding Group, said, “We just want to show the community that we are exercising our right to vote, because it is an important thing. That is part of the freedom that has been given to us as citizens of Saipan, the freedom of actually having the option to choose among candidates to help govern us.”
“In contrast to what others may think, we don’t endorse any parties or candidates, which is why I wish them all good luck,” Guerrero added.
According to Guerrero, the bike group has been making scheduled rides during election day ever since the group was first established on 2010.
“I don’t know why other people are not voting. If they are not voting, they should come down over here and exercise their constitutional right because this thing is something that should not be taken for granted. It give us the opportunity to elect who we want to represent us in higher offices,” Guerrero said.
A regular voter, Jon Santos, said, “When I was heading over here to vote with my family I noticed the bike [group] come in. At first I thought they were going to do a show so it surprised me to see some members stepping off their bikes to vote inside.”
