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Amend the election law
If the indigenous people of the NMI desires to attract and consider new breeds of candidates for elected public offices, the CNMI election law should be amended for the purpose of expanding and including a wider selection of available prospective candidates. In addition to the present provision of candidacy qualification, the election law should include the following alternative qualification standards for all elected public offices with exception for the offices of the governor and lt. governor. The amended language should at least provide for the following:
“A candidate for any public offices in the CNMI shall be qualified to vote in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, at least 25 years of age, born in the CNMI, and had voted and registered to vote in the last 10 CNMI general elections preceding the date on which the elected official affirms the oath of office. No person convicted of a felony in the Commonwealth or in any area under the jurisdiction of the United States may be eligible for these offices unless a full pardon has been granted.”
This particular amendment to the election law would open a wider selection and consideration of potential candidates for public offices in the CNMI. The question now is who in the Legislature would be willing to take charge of this matter?
Francisco R. Agulto
Kannat Tabla, Saipan
