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CEC anticipates 2,500 absentee voters in Nov. polls
The Commonwealth Election Commission expects to have 2,500 absentee voters this November elections, which is around the same figure during the 2009 gubernatorial polls, according to CEC executive director Robert A. Guerrero.
In an interview with Saipan Tribune, Guerrero said they believe they will come up with the same figure from the 2009 polls, if not more, because of people moving abroad.
He said they also anticipate having the absentee ballots on hand by mid-September.
From there, he said, they will repack the ballots and start sending them to absentee voters.
Guerrero explained that if a voter requests for an absentee ballot, his or her name will be posted on CEC’s website, indicating the date when the commission received the request and when the ballot goes out.
“If absentee voters actually respond accordingly, we should receive those ballots on or before election day,” he said.
Guerrero said if they don’t receive the ballots on or before election day, they’re considered untimely and will not be counted.
He said a person must first be a registered voter in order to be an absentee.
He said the law says if a voter thinks that he or she is unable to go to the polling place on election day for reasons such as military, medical, education, employment, and accompanying a member of the household who is engaged in those activities, then he or she is eligible to vote as an absentee.
According to CEC, an absentee ballot application form must be completed and filed by each voter for a scheduled election at least 25 days before an election if done by mail or by the business day prior to the scheduled election day.
Off-island applicants may download the application for absentee voting on CEC’s website (www.votecnmi.gov.mp/) and either mail, fax, or email the form to CEC.
This form of submission must be received by the CEC office at least 25 days prior to the scheduled election. Walk-in applicants may submit their application anytime but no later than the business day prior to the scheduled election.
