By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

SENATOR Adolpho Palacios Sr., D-Ordot/Chalan Pago, proposes that Guam voters be given the option to cast their votes within 30 days before the date of the election to encourage greater participation in the political process.
In introducing Bill 41, Palacios noted the low voter turnout during the last general election, which he said was “not typical,” considering that it involved a gubernatorial race.
“Typically, gubernatorial election registers a higher voter turnout, but the last election only had less than 60 percent turnout,” Palacios told Variety.
“It was the first election which was not a holiday. Some people tried to vote after work hours but when they saw the long line at the voting station, they turned around.”
Election day was among the holidays removed from the Guam calendar when the 27th Legislature passed a bill to reduce the number of paid non-working days as part of the government’s austerity efforts.
Sen. Rory Respicio, D-Agana Heights, has introduced a bill that seeks to restore election day on the list of Guam holidays.
“If we establish an early voting process, it will not be necessary to declare election as holiday since the voters can go out and vote anytime within 30 days before the election,” Palacios said.
“This bill only intends to improve the election process and make it more convenient for voters to participate in the election. The greater voter turnout we get, the more accurate the results would be,” he added.
Besides increasing voters’ participation, Palacios said the early voting option can also lessen the likelihood of overcrowding at polling sites on election day.
 If Bill 41 becomes law, then voters may cast their votes at the Guam Election Commission office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the 30-day election period.
Under the bill, GEC would be responsible “for the physical custody, security and confidentiality of early voting ballots,” and would be required to “report any tampering or destruction of ballots to the appropriate authorities within 24 hours.”
Palacios noted that the early voting process has been established in 15 states.