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CEC to buy 6 tabulating machines
The Commonwealth Election Commission is buying two large tabulating machines and four small ones—all worth $170,000—for the Nov. 3 general elections, according to CEC executive director Julita A. Villagomez yesterday.
Villagomez said they need to replace the five machines because they are now slow and obsolete.
CEC just sent early this month the contract for the six machines to the Nebraska-based Election Systems and Software. She said the machines are expected to arrive on Saipan in the latter part of September or early October.
Villagomez said the two new big machines will be used on Saipan, while two new small machines will be used each on Tinian and Rota.
SSS will be sending a technician to the CNMI to service the newly purchased machines.
CEC bought five machines from the same company in 2003.
Villagomez said there was a delay in the tabulation of ballots in the last election as there was a problem with compatibility issue in the old machines.
In past elections, the CEC has been using three machines for Saipan and one machine each for Tinian and Rota.
Villagomez urged people to register to vote as the deadline is Sept. 4.
She also asked those who need to update their records to come in now.
The request for absentee ballots will commence on Aug. 20.
Sixty-six persons have filed their candidacies, while two judges and a justice will also be on the ballot for retention on the bench.
The CEC board has yet to certify their candidacies.
Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Ind-MP) is running unopposed for his seventh term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The position for the U.S. delegate and 37 other government positions, including three from the Judiciary for retention, are up for grabs in the coming Nov. 3 general elections, which used to be called mid-term election.
