All election candidates filed their campaign statements

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All 68 candidates and two political parties in last Nov. 3’s general elections were able to file their campaign statements of account on time, according to acting Commonwealth Election Commission executive director Kayla Igitol yesterday.

Igitol said that most of the candidates filed on or before the Dec. 23, 2020 deadline, while 21 asked for an extension and made it to the Jan. 7, 2021, deadline.

Some candidates filed their campaign statements with the Office of the Public Auditor on Capital Hill, while many others did so with CEC office in Susupe.

According to OPA and CEC, the campaign statement of account must be filed within 50 days after an election. Last year, the deadline fell on Dec. 23, 2020.

A statement can be delivered by certified mail as long as it is postmarked no later than Dec. 23, 2020.

Upon a written request from the candidate, the CEC may extend the deadline for filing by up to 15 days, or Jan. 7, 2021.

However, OPA and CEC said, the candidate must possess an approved request for extension by Dec. 23, 2020, to avoid being penalized.

A candidate will be fined $100 for each calendar day the report is late.

There were 68 candidates who ran in the last election for a total of 39 positions, including the delegate to the U.S. Congress, plus retention elections for a justice and two judges.

Ferdie De La Torre | Reporter
Ferdie Ponce de la Torre is a senior reporter of Saipan Tribune. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has covered all news beats in the CNMI. He is a recipient of the CNMI Supreme Court Justice Award. Contact him at ferdie_delatorre@Saipantribune.com
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