GUBERNATORIAL teams on Thursday were given the opportunity to inspect the armory room of the Department of Corrections where the official ballots for the Nov. 8 general election will be stored.
Kayla Igitol
In her report to the election board on Friday afternoon, Commonwealth Election Commission Executive Director Kayla S. Igitol said the teams, together with a representative from the Office of the Public Auditor, “did a walkthrough” of the facility to ensure that the armory room is secure and the security cameras are functional.
By law, OPA assists the election commission in the entire election process “to prevent and detect fraud and any abuse in the election process until the official results are certified, including monitoring the polls during special election, early voting, and Election Day.”
Igitol said they “were able to see in real time that the cameras work and the CCTVs are in operation… They are happy with the inspection.”
She said they spent about 10 to 15 minutes in the area, adding that there will be more periodic inspections of the armory room and security system.
The candidates for governor are Republican Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Independent Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, and Democratic Rep. Christina “Tina” M. Sablan.
Torres is running with Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan; Palacios with Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang; and Sablan with Rep. Leila H.F. Staffler.
Under CNMI election law, the winning gubernatorial candidate must receive more than half of the total votes cast and counted.
If neither of the candidates secures a majority, a runoff election will be conducted 14 days after the CEC certifies the results of the general election.
The election commission has no more than 20 days after Election Day to certify the results.
CNMI election law states that candidates who receive the highest and second highest number of votes cast and counted in the general election shall compete in the runoff election.
Whoever received more than half of the votes cast and counted in the runoff will be declared the winner.
