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Election workers seen violating anti-smoking rule
Commonwealth Election supervisors were seen smoking on site at the Dandan Elementary School yesterday morning as CNMI residents lined up to cast their ballots.
One police officer and another election personnel wearing I.D cards labeled “Election Worker” or “Election Supervisor” were seen smoking near the entrances of the polling site. Later in the day, an officer was also seen smoking a cigarette outside the entrance of the same polling site while chatting with residents.
House Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero said that CNMI law and school policy prohibits smoking on public and private school grounds.
“The law applies anytime a person is on school grounds. They are supposed to go outside the gate if they are going to do it,” he told Saipan Tribune in an interview. “It does not matter what time of day it is. If it is during school or after, you are not supposed to smoke there. They must go outside the gate.”
He said the Commonwealth Election Commission should be informing their personnel to not smoke in schools that are designated as polling stations.
Public law forbids smoking in any courthouse, public or private school building, college, museum, library, airport building, waiting area of a healthcare facility, group child care center, school-aged day care center, family day care center or in any public building, or of any open meeting of a governmental body.
Government officials and election commission officers seen at the polling area with the two smokers did not stop the officer and supervisor from smoking.
Witnesses also reported seeing officials smoking at Precinct 5 in Kagman Elementary school.
Saipan Tribune tried but failed to obtain comments from the Commonwealth Election Commission.
