(NMI GOP) — There will be volunteers present at the General Membership Meeting on May 15, 2025 in order to assist with Membership Registration and election of officers. The General Membership Meeting will be conducted pursuant to the CNMI Republican Party Bylaws, the Robert’s Rules of Order and will follow the Commonwealth Election Commission process as closely as possible as the situation applies.
The venue for the GMM on Saipan is the Garapan Central Park; the GMM Tinian venue will be at the Fiesta Grounds at Jones Beach; and the Rota GMM venue will be at the Rota Round House in Songsong Village.
The Party has allowed Rota and Tinian to decide how to conduct their respective Membership Registration and officer election process. The following are ground rules approved by the Party in order to ensure a transparent and open voting process and will apply to Saipan, and if applicable, to Tinian and Rota.
Rule 1: There will be no intimidation, threats, harassment, disruptive or disrespectful behavior tolerated within the Arena. Anyone violating this rule will be escorted out and not allowed back in.
Rule 2: Pursuant to the Bylaws, to be a Member of the CNMI Republican Party, you must be a registered CNMI voter.
Volunteers will be present with a recent CNMI Registered Voter List to verify any person who wishes to register to be a Member. Please bring an identification card or have someone available to vouch for your identity.
Rule 3: Only Members are allowed to vote and make nominations during the voting process.
Rule 4: Each member is entitled to one ballot. Please keep your ballot with you at all times. No additional ballots will be issued under any circumstances.
Rule 5: The registration and voting area within the Garapan Central Park is called the Arena. To ensure a smooth process, once you are done voting, you must exit the Arena. Only the GOP officers, volunteers and the media will be allowed to remain within the Arena. Once the polls are closed, the Arena will be opened to anyone who wishes to observe the counting process.
Rule 6: A person who is nominated to an officer position must be a Member and must be present during the meeting in order to accept the nomination.
Rule 7: Tinian and Rota representatives will be available virtually with a designated person on Saipan during the meeting in the event a Tinian or Rota Member wishes to make a nomination for any of the officer position.
Rule 8: Tinian and Rota will provide a list of the Members who registered and the number of Members who voted during the meeting by electronic means prior to submitting their election results.
Rule 9: Before the ballot box is sealed to begin the voting process, the box will be opened and inspected to ensure there is nothing in the ballot box.
Rule 10: The polls will close promptly at 7 p.m. However, if there are still members in line for registration and/or voting after this time, the last Member in line at that moment will be permitted to register and/or cast their vote.
Rule 11: Any protest to the election results must be made prior to the adjournment of the meeting.
Rule 12: The ballots will be available for inspection up to 30 days after the election and then, they will be destroyed.
