THE Commonwealth Election Commission board will meet at 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 9, at the Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center to count the remaining absentee ballots in the gubernatorial runoff election.
According to CNMI law, absentee ballots postmarked on or before the runoff election date will continue to be received by the Commonwealth Election Commission within the next 14 days after the runoff election date which in this case will be Friday, Dec. 9.
In a previous interview, CEC board chair Jesus I. Sablan said they would also certify the results on Friday, Dec. 9.
Based on the unofficial results announced on Nov. 26, the Independent tandem of Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang garnered 138 absentee votes while Republican Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and running mate Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan received 140 absentee votes.
Palacios and Apatang obtained a total of 7,077 or 54.05% of the votes cast while Torres and Sablan garnered 6,017 or 45.95% of the votes cast.
In order to be included in the final count, the remaining absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before the runoff election day, Nov. 25, in the jurisdiction where the ballot was mailed, and must be received by the CEC by Friday, Dec. 9, local time.
CEC Executive Director Kayla S. Igitol said absentee ballots were mailed out on Nov. 14 and 15.
CNMI law states that an absentee ballot may be rejected if, after comparing the signature of the voter on the application for absentee ballot with that on the affidavit and registration, it appears the signatures were not made by the same person.
Absentee ballots may also be rejected if the affidavit is not properly completed; the return envelope is not sealed; the seal appears to have been tampered with; the CEC has already received an absentee ballot from that person; the absentee voter has died or has otherwise become ineligible to vote on election day; or the ballot has been received after the deadline.
If a ballot is rejected, then the word “rejected” will be printed on the return envelope, along with a short statement of the reason for rejection, signed by five election commissioners.
The rejected ballot may not be delivered to the accounting and tabulation committee, but must be maintained in a secure place by the CEC for at least six months after the election.
As of Dec. 7, according to the CEC website, there were 1,947 registered absentee voters.
For more information, visit votecnmi.gov.mp or contact the CEC at (670) 235-8682/3/5 or cec@votecnmi.gov.mp/. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
