Remengesau, Basilius top Palau primary poll

Incumbent President Tommy Remengesau and fellow candidate Polycorp Basilius topped the Palau primary election poll and will square off for the country’s presidential position in the upcoming general elections in November.

This was according to the Palau Consulate Office, which disclosed yesterday that all votes in the primary election were certified on Tuesday, declaring the two as victors.

Palau Consul Eileen N. Kintol said about 6,608 registered voters, inclusive of absentee voters, cast their votes during the election, or about 51.1 percent of the 12,922 registered voters for the country.

It was a landslide victory for Remengesau, who garnered 4,375 votes, more than double that of Basilius, who had 1,824 votes in his favor.

Candidate Ben Roberto was eliminated from the race after receiving 409 votes.

Kintol said about 280 absentee ballots were requested by Palauan voters on Saipan, but could not determine how many actually took part in the voting process. About 700 registered voters reside on Saipan.

The primary poll on Palau was held on Sept. 28. Officials waited seven days for absentee ballots before certifying the results.

Remengesau and Basilius will go head-to-head in the general election on Nov. 2, which also includes races for other offices as well as amendments to the Palau Constitution.

REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOTS NOW

Voters residing on Saipan may now put in requests for absentee ballots, and have until Oct. 25 to do so. Requests can be made at the Palau Consulate Office on the 2nd floor of the Joeten Dandan Building.

Earlier, Kintol disclosed that having a poll box for voters on Saipan is possible, but confirmation of that has yet to be given by the election commission.

“If we don’t get the poll box, then the voters must do it by absentee ballots,” she said.

Further, if the polling box is granted, the election commission has notified Kintol that registered voters will cast their votes on Oct. 30.

“If we’re going to do it here, then we’re going to find a bigger place where people can cast their votes,” Kintol said. “The election will also include not only the presidential race, but also amendments to our constitution.”

Meanwhile, Kintol disclosed that the election commission has indicated that voters who fail to cast votes in the general elections would be removed from the registered voters list.

“If that happens, the person will have to register again. The person has to go to Palau, and go through the process,” she said.

For more information, contact the Palau Consulate Office at 235-6804.