By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

DEMOCRATIC senators have revived a proposal to declare “any day on which a general election is held” a holiday.
“The purpose of making election day a holiday is to encourage people to come out and vote and make the election process smoother,” said Sen. Rory Respicio, D-Agana, main author of Bill 29, which proposes to include general election day in Guam’s holiday calendar.
Respicio first introduced the bill in the 28th Legislature shortly after the Nov. 7 general election. The bill was not publicly heard.
“The Guam Election Commission asked the governor to declare election day a holiday to make it easier, logistically, for them to conduct the election,” Respicio recalled.
He said a lot of precincts were understaffed because those who sought to work as poll watchers or precinct officers didn’t get the leave that they needed to get off work.
“I hope that this bill goes to a public hearing and gets passed before the next general election,” Respicio said.
The bill is cosponsored by Sens. Tina Muna-Barnes, D-Mangilao, and Judith Guthertz, D-Mangilao.