Youth Congress holds elections today

Twenty-three hopefuls vie today for much coveted youth senatorial seats in the CNMI Youth Congress’ third year. Close to 2,000 registered voters are expected to troop to precinct polling sites between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Youths voting on the school level can cast their votes between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. today.

The Legislative Bureau is encouraging all registered youth voters to support this year’s elections by exercising their right to vote.
Eligible voters are those that have attained the age of 14 and have not exceeded the age of 20.

Precinct voters must be a resident of their respective precinct for at least 10 months prior to the election date.

Student voters must be enrolled either full time or part time in their respective schools.
Youth Congress Clerk Nancy Sanchez expressed hopes this year’s youth elections will actually draw more voters compared to last year’s dismal turnout.

The bureau recorded over 900 new registrants for the youth polls. Voter registration figures totaled 1,950 for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Youth Congress combined.

But Ms. Sanchez said some 10 percent of the overall registrants have exceeded the maximum voting age.

Precinct 1 candidates include Manuel Tenorio, Jr., incumbent Youth Congress Speaker Angel A. Demapan, and incumbent youth senator Luis DLG. Castro.

Incumbent youth floor leader Ramona Concepcion is running as a Precinct 2 candidate under the 3rd CNMI Youth Congress while Eulalia Gomez also runs unopposed in Precinct 3.

Precinct 5 candidates include Jovon Charfauros and Antonio Castro. Trinajae M. Apatang and Maryanna Mendiola are running for Precinct 6.
At the school level, representing Mount Carmel School are Colleen Macduff and Myung Min Kim. Running unopposed for Grace Christian Academy is incumbent youth senator Joshua Blalock.

Other school candidates also include incumbent youth senator Joaquina Salas, Alisa Ann Torres, and Keoni DLG. Guerrero for Marianas High School; Carmen B. Sablan, Margaret Ashlee R. Tenorio, and Absinthe Algaier for Northern Marianas College; Joweda Calvo and Tanya Taisacan for Rota High School; Aillen Ada for Marianas Baptist Academy; incumbent youth senator Frances Somorang for Northern Marianas Academy; and Jeannette Sablan for Tinian High School.

The Youth Congress was created to provide a system which would allow the youth to prepare and meet the challenges of the future. The experience provides them the opportunity to voice their concerns and act on them by creating their own legislation and/or resolutions to address problems that directly affect them.

It is also a process intended to introduce to CNMI’s future leaders familiarity toward legislative and election procedures.