Go out and vote • Elections chief warns candidates and supporters against intimidating voters

All is set for tomorrow’s political exercise as the CNMI’s 14,325 voters gear up to pick new senators, congressmen, municipal councilors and Board of Education members, and to decide whether or not they want to amend the CNMI Constitution.

The voters will also decide if they want Timothy Bellas to continue serving as a Superior Court judge after the expiration of his term.

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tallying of votes will proceed immediately at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.

Board of Elections Executive Director Gregorio Sablan appealed to candidates and their supporters to “avoid intimidation” at polling places and help in keeping the elections peaceful and orderly.

The voters are to pick from 68 candidates racing for different positions. Senate and House positions are being contested by Republicans, Democrats, Reformers, and Independents. Voters are also allowed to cast votes for write-in candidates.

Past elections in the CNMI had always been fair and peaceful, Sablan said.

Although he doesn’t expect any untoward incidents at the polls, Sablan said BOE saw the need to tap the Department of Public Safety and the police academy to ensure that election laws are enforced.

“We don’t expect the police officers to make any arrest but if there’s anyone found violating the law, the police will have to enforce the law,” Sablan said. “I want to appeal to candidates and supporters to avoid intimidation at polling places.”

The board has hired 400 poll supervisors and tabulators, endorsed by political parties and independent candidates, to assist in conducting the political exercise.

During yesterday’s briefing at the Multi-Purpose Building, BOE Chairman Miguel Sablan reminded the tabulators and poll supervisors that they “ceased to be representatives of candidates” on election day.

When the board hired their services, Sablan said, they have become “election officers” who should stay neutral.

Aside from electing candidates for political and nonpolitical positions, the CNMI voters will also have to decide whether to ratify or reject proposed constitutional amendments through legislative and popular initiatives –– despite their complaints about the government’s failure to conduct public information campaign on the issues involved in the referendum.

The general electorate will decide on Legislative Initiative 11-1, which proposes to restrict to the “indigenous” population the right to vote on issues affecting land ownership in the CNMI; and Legislative Initiative 11-4, which establishes separate finance offices for the legislature and the judiciary.

Tinian voters will decide whether or not to approve the proposed revisions in the Tinian Casino Gaming Act of 1898. Rota voters will answer the question of whether they would allow the establishment of a casino industry in their island.