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CNMI votes in mock presidential poll
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Posted on Oct 30 2004
Government officials, led by Gov. Juan N. Babauta, participated in yesterday’s mock U.S. presidential elections in the CNMI.
Northern Marianas College political science instructor Sam McPhetres said the governor arrived at the voting place—the conference room of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library—at about 10am.
“Our high government officials, including members of the Judiciary, voted,” he said, adding that majority of the voters were local senior citizens.
As of 4pm, the mock election organizer—McPhetres political science class—registered some 300 voters.
“I’ll be happy with more,” he said.
McPhetres said yesterday’s event was for the students to get a hands-on experience of the democratic process and a general feel of the people’s choice for the U.S. president.
The Election Commission had authorized the students to use the CNMI official registry of voters for the mock event.
NMC student Leslie Cabrera said most voters gave them positive feedback.
“They said they like that we’re doing it,” she said, giving credit to McPhetres for encouraging them to go ahead with the project and “the wonderful job” by her fellow students.
“It’s wonderful. Our class made it happen,” she said.
Two classes of McPhetres’ Political Science 110 – Principle of Democratic Institutions took part in the mock election.
A week ago, the students held a mock presidential debate attended by Babauta representing President Bush, NMC faculty Danny Wyatt for Democratic candidate John Kerry, and Election Commission executive director Greg Sablan for independent candidate Ralph Nader.
Yesterday’s mock election was also carried out on Tinian and Rota.
Election Commission staff Julie Villagomez had stayed with the election organizer as volunteer.
The counting had yet to begin as the Saipan Tribune went to press.
