Commonwealth Election Commission Executive Director Robert Guerrero said because of the shutdown, he could not send absentee ballots requested by off-island voters.
Since Friday, about 50 voters living in the states, including those in the military, had been emailing and calling the election office to request for ballots.
But his office was closed on Friday because it was not included on the governor’s list of essential services.
Guerrero said the Office of Public Auditor, which has to check the absentee ballots before they are sent off island, is also not considered “essential” so there is no way they can accommodate the absentee voters as long as there is no new budget law.
Guerrero said his office sent out more than 500 absentee ballots before the government shutdown.
Absentee voters, he said, only have until 4:30 p.m. this Friday to request for their ballots.
Guerrero said it takes three to five days before CNMI voters in the U.S. can receive their absentee ballots. Those who are in foreign countries will have to wait longer.
A resident, who declined to be identified, said the government shutdown is depriving absentee voters of their right to vote.
Perhaps the affected absentee voters can file a lawsuit, the resident said.
Guerrero said he hopes a balanced budget is finally passed today.
Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan, who is running for reelection, said the closure of the election commission “could deprive citizens of their right to vote.”
The former election commission’s executive director said the failure to send out absentee ballots could call into question the legitimacy of the Nov. 2 election and leave the CNMI without representation in the U.S. Congress.
“Most of us consider our self-government to be essential,” he added.
This shutdown, he said, is causing suffering and the people are hurting.
The Legislature and the governor need to settle their disagreements as quickly as possible, he added.
