3,420 failed voters in the 2007 polls

A total of 3,420 individuals failed to vote during the 2007 midterm election and would need to register anew in order to participate in this year’s gubernatorial poll, according to the Commonwealth Election Commission yesterday.

These individuals, once re-registered, are expected to boost the total participants in the general election set for Nov. 7.

Latest figures from the commission show that so far there are 13,104 registered voters in the CNMI.

If all 3,420 failed voters re-register and participate, the commission expects to exceed its target voters of 15,000 this year.

As of Feb. 26, 2009, election district 1 has the most number of registered voters, totaling 3,534, mostly from San Vicente with its 1,965 voters; Koblerville with 881; and San Antonio, 688.

Election district 2, which covers San Jose and Garapan villages, comes second, totaling 2,742. The Garapan area has 2,030 voters and San Jose has 712 so far.

Kagman, which belongs to election district 5, has total registered voters of 1,854.

In election district 4, Tanapag has the biggest number of registered voters at 550; San Roque has 471; Capitol Hill, 353; and Northern Islands, 72.

In Chalan Kanoa and Susupe areas, both under election district 2, the commission recorded a total of 998 registered voters.

On Tinian, latest figures show a total of 1,150 registered individuals, while Rota has 1,380.

Since the opening of registration in November last year, the election commission has seen quite a number of walk-in registrants visiting the office.

John L. Takai, the commission’s outreach logistics coordinator, disclosed that they register an average of 15-19 individuals on a daily basis.

He said the current number of registered voters—13,104—is expected to go up in July with the entry of “fresh graduates” and “new voters.”

“We’re expecting more or less 1,400 new voters in July,” he said, when most graduates apply for various scholarship programs. Voter registration is usually among the requirements.

Voter registration is up until Sept. 18.

The commission earlier revised its position on what it considers “failed voters,” saying these are individuals who did not participate in the 2007 election. Those who did not cast their ballots in the November 2008 delegate election were removed from the “failed voters” list since that election is considered a special election.

Records obtained by Saipan Tribune show that since 2009, a total of 209 new voters were recorded by the commission.

These 209 individuals are excluded in the 13,104 “active” voters posted by the election commission.

Combined registered voters at present—active and new voters—is at 13,313.

Takai said this figure is expected to increase once the 3,420 “failed” voters register anew and new voters register in July.