has garnered a majority of the votes cast; and is likely to remain in office for the next term.
Kayangel State has 371 registered voters. Last Tuesday, 224 of the registered voters cast their votes to elect a governor and12 members of the state’s legislature; and at the same time, voted for two proposed amendments – to increase the number of years per term for the governorship from 2 years to 4 years and similarly, for the legislative term – of the state’s constitution.
Chiokai received 52% (117 votes) of the vote cast to Jeffrey Titiml’s 42% (95 votes). A total of 19 absentee ballots were sent out and will be counted next week; hence, even if Titiml receives all of the 19 votes, he would still lose the governorship race to Chiokai.
In the state’s legislative race, all of the candidates who filed their petition have unofficially won. The 19 absentee ballots would not change the outcome of the election.
The unofficial results shows Harrington Olebuu with 173 votes (77% of the votes cast); Midas Ngiracheluolu with 166 (74%); Roman Mongami with 157 (70%); Keity Bandarii with 153 (68%); Francisca Skiwo with 144 (64%); Richard Ngiraked with 139 (62%); Jack Ngiraked and Tadao Ruluked each with 132 (59%); Elmis Ruluked with 125 (56%); Ricky Ngiraked with 124 (55%); Toshiwo Kelmal with 117 (52%); and Niro Bandarii with 108 (48%).
As indicated in the votes cast, nearly all of the legislative candidates received as much as 50% of the votes; and none of them is likely to lose a seat when the absentee ballots are accounted for.
The two proposed amendments to the state’s constitution, however, will not pass. The first of the proposed amendments to the states constitution – to change the governor’s service term from 2 years to 4 years – received 140 yes-votes (63% of the total vote cast); and 77 no-votes (34%). The second of the proposed amendments – to change legislative terms from 2 years to 4 years – received 132 yes-votes (60%) and 84 no-votes (38%).
Kayangel State’s Constitution mandates a 75% yes-vote of the total number of votes cast in order for implementation of constitutional changes. Both of the proposed constitutional amendments as indicated by the number of votes cast and results, did not and will not – counting the absentee ballots – meet the 75% constitutional requirement.
Chiokai and all the elected members of Kayangel State Legislature, when they are sworn into office, will have 2 years to provide service for the people of Kayangel before the next election in 2010.
