Informed residents beget wise voters

A measure to assist voters arrive at more informed decisions over any proposed amendments to the CNMI Constitution is in the works in the House of Representatives.

On cue for the upcoming November elections, Rep. William S. Torres has introduced an initiative that seeks to make public education a mandatory requirement on any proposed changes to the local Constitution.

Under the proposal, the Board of Elections is being eyed as the agency responsible in delegating more voter awareness educational programs.

According to Mr. Torres, the Legislature supports the right of the Commonwealth to bring issues directly to the people through an initiative process in the same manner as the Legislature is authorized to propose amendments to the NMI Constitution.

The proposed act recognizes that this right comes with the responsibility to adequately and fairly educate the public on any proposed amendments to the Constitution, in order that the electorates will be more informed about their options.

Mr. Torres has cited the relative outcomes of the first, second, and third Constitutional Convention delegate proposals as glaring examples, where public education should have been instituted as part of the voting process.

The first and second convention delegate proposals were endorsed by at least a majority of voters in a regularly scheduled general election, but the third convention delegate proposals were soundly rejected by the people, according to the congressman.

This, without speculating on the relative advantages/disadvantages and relative costs/benefits of any and all proposed amendments to the Constitution of the CNMI in plain ordinary language.

The freshly-introduced act aims to designate the electoral board to conduct all public education at least 90 working days prior to a scheduled general or special election.

The agency shall be mandated pursuant to the proposed act to coordinate all public education activities and events on any and all initiatives in accordance with Article XVIII of the Constitution.

The board shall not delegate or contract such solemn task in any event.

Moreover, the board shall have the responsibility for submitting supplemental budget request in compliance with the provision.

According to the proposed legislation, a sum of $250,000 from the general funds, without fiscal year limitation, is to be appropriated pursuant to the act under the expenditure authority of the BOE Executive Director.

Public education activities shall be conducted in an impartial, fair, objective and intelligent manner using a range of modalities including but not limited to local newspapers, radio, television, village meetings, and other special forum.