Early voting accounts for 45 pct. of votes in Precinct 4C

Instead of long lines, voters who headed to Election Precinct 4C on Capital Hill were greeted by eager election volunteers and, more often than not, vacant cubicles.

Election volunteer Eugene Borja told Saipan Tribune that elections at the highest point in the CNMI was “so far so good.”

From left, election volunteers Eugene Borja, Ruth Palacios, Nacrina Aldan, and Kellanie Ludwig pose for the Saipan Tribune inside election precinct 4C at the Legislature on Capital Hill yesterday. (MARK RABAGO)

“It’s been slow due to the early voting. So it’s pretty much more convenient now for residents to vote,” he said.

As of 3:20pm yesterday, Borja said total votes cast at Election Precinct 4C totaled 254 votes, including 116 from early voting. Early voting therefore translates to more than 45 percent of the votes at the precinct.

“More than half has come to the polls already. We have 70 percent of votes in already,” added Borja.

He said the most exciting part of Election Day for him and his fellow volunteers was the time when one housebound voter exercised his right to vote. Borja said election volunteers went to the home of the bedridden voter by request to get his vote.

Aside from Borja, other election volunteers at the precinct were Ruth Palacios, Nacrina Aldan, and Kellanie Ludwig.

A number of voters interviewed at the precinct yesterday afternoon also said they will not hesitate to vote in the runoff for governor if none of the candidates for the islands’ chief executive garnered 50 percent of the votes plus 1.

Among those who confirmed that he will vote in the runoff is CNMI Little League district administrator Mike Borja.

“That’s our basic fundamental right and we have to exercise our right to vote because we’re a democratic society. We have to respect that democracy and the democracy of our island is vibrant and strong,” the 46-year-old Capital Hill resident said.

Others who vowed to once again go to the polls in a runoff were 50-year-old Ben Camacho of Santa Lourdes, Tanya Concepcion of Capital Hill, and Tony Iguel, also of Capital Hill.

Borja added that he is exercising his voting rights this 2014 elections for the sake of the future generation.

“There are a lot of pressing issues here in the Marianas Islands such as the high utility costs, the Retirement Fund fiasco, and education problem. This is a great day for the Commonwealth where people can decide who will be leading us in the next four years. I think this is very important. For me, I’m already a grandfather and I have five grandkids. I believe about the future of our kids and of our grandkids. This is our time and this is our responsibility as a parent and grandparent. Even though we’re not running for public office, we should also watch this democratic system. It affects all our lives.”