1st day of early voting smooth but low turnout

The start of the 21-day early voting for Saipan and the Northern Islands yesterday went smoothly and orderly but had a low turnout, according to the Commonwealth Election Commission.

There were 243 voters at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe, while 184 voted at the Koblerville Youth Center in Koblerville, 60 at the Tanapag Youth Center in Tanapag, and 112 at the Kagman Community Center in Kagman, for a total of 599.

CEC executive director Julita A. Villagomez said they did not encounter any problems at the Multi-Purpose Center and that she also did not hear of any problems at other polling sites.

Villagomez said the only challenge for them is the COVID-19 protocols that they and the COVID-19 Task Force have put in place. She said voters and election staff have to observe social distancing at polling sites, where they also get temperatures of everybody and wash their hands.

Villagomez said the minor issues they have encountered is missing names, but it turned out that those voters should be at another polling site.

She said some people failed to vote in two consecutive elections already, so their names are not there. Villagomez said they sent them to the CEC office to show them the records that they did not vote in consecutive elections.

Despite the COVID-19 situation this year, Villagomez said the 2018 election was more challenging because it was right after Super Typhoon Yutu, in which lack of electric power was an issue. She recalled that, at one time, they couldn’t work in preparing the election and were given one week delay to process the election.

“At that time, we didn’t have power at the office,” Villagomez said.

Commonwealth Election Commission staff checks the temperature of an early voter at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center.
(NEIL FAMA)

A teacher/librarian who was one of those who voted at the Multi-Purpose Center said early voting process was wonderful as it was fast and easy and that COVID-19 protocols were observed.

“I was processed at the front door, and then spent a short time at the waiting area, and then I received the ballot and proceeded inside to one of the booths. And in less than two minutes, I chose my candidates and I inserted the ballot into the collection box,” said the 41-year-old voter who requested anonymity.

She said 2020 is a special year and that she’s especially enthusiastic about her candidates.

“I know where I stand, what my values are. And I vote according to the party and the platform. And I vote for the party that I believe reflects my personal values as an American citizen and my religious convictions,” she said.

The teacher/librarian said she is a private person and believes in exercising her right, but she does not like being hassled by the crowd during election day so she decided to vote early.

Another voter, Martin Dela Cruz, 49, said the process was fast as he completed it in less than two minutes.

Dela Cruz, a resident of Chalan Kanoa, said he decided to vote early like in previous elections to avoid crowd or additional hassle during election day.