VINCENT C. Hocog, a registered voter of Rota, is challenging the eligibility of 224 absentee voters who cast their ballots in the recently concluded gubernatorial runoff election.
In a letter to the Commonwealth Election Commission Chairman Jesus I. Sablan and Executive Director Kayla S. Igitol, Hocog is asking the CEC to check 1) the right of such persons to be or to remain registered as CNMI voters in any CNMI district; and 2) the right of such persons to vote in the runoff.
Hocog is “humbly” requesting the CEC to “expeditiously” assess the eligibility, legitimacy, legality, and validity of the ballots cast by the 224 voters on the list he submitted.
He wants their ballots to be “segregated and/or withheld for an indeterminate period of time…pending full, complete, impartial and final review and disposition of this challenge by CEC officials and/or the appropriate judicial venue.”
Variety was told that many of those on the list have already received letters from the CEC, informing them about Hocog’s challenge.
The runoff election was won by Independent gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and his running mate, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang.
They garnered 7,077 or 54.05% of the votes cast while their Republican opponents, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Senate Floor Leader Vinnie Sablan, received 6,017 or 45.95% of the votes cast.
