House passes legislation including extension of absentee ballots deadline

The House of Representatives passed several bills including one that would extend the deadline for absentee ballots for the Nov. 8 general elections. All 19 members voted in the affirmative to pass House Bills 19-158, 191, 199, 203, and 204 during Friday’s session.

HB 19-204 aims to suspend 1 CMC 6213, which states that all absentee ballots must be received on or before the day of the election. All absentee ballots are in danger of not being counted on Nov. 8 after the Commonwealth Election Commission just sent all 1,564 last week. Rep. Felicidad T. Ogumoro (R-Saipan) introduced HB 19-204.

These ballots could have an affect on the results of the election, especially in precincts where seats are tightly contested. The extension became necessary as there won’t be enough time for the absentee voter to receive the ballot and send it back to the CNMI.

The bill moves to the Senate and if they would act on it, without amendments, would be transmitted to the governor for signing. HB 19-204 would allow all absentee ballots received to be counted on Nov. 18.

The CEC, last week, said they would need $98,000 to send all absentee ballots by express mail to make it just in time for Nov. 8. They ordered 21,000 ballots with 1,564 for absentee voters. The CNMI has 17,000 registered voters.

The House also passed HB 19-203 that would reform drug-sentencing laws for the rehabilitation and treatment principles of evidence-based sentencing. The act is also called the Drug Court Sentencing Reform Act. House speaker Rafael S. Demapan (R-Saipan) introduced HB 19-203

The Legislature, after the bill creating the drug court in the CNMI became law, has been committed to establish sentencing laws that would incorporate evidence-based programs and services like treatment and supervision.

House majority leader Rep. George N. Camacho (R-Saipan) introduced HB 19-199 that would amend 3CMC 5451 (b) of lifesaving devices. The bill hopes to address the issue of boating-related deaths due to drowning after victims failed to wear life jackets.

HB 19-158 is the Land Compensation Act of 2016 that would compensate private landowners whose properties were taken for public purposes and court judgment. Rep. Anthony Benavente (Ind-Saipan) is the bill’s author.

Rep. Francis S. Taimanao (Ind-Saipan) authored HB 19-191, an act that would establish provisions and penalties for jaywalking.