Violating this provision is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not greater than $2,000 or more than 60 days in prison or both.
Variety learned that the full-page newspaper advertisements were placed by Covenant Party supporters.
Assistant Attorney General Meagan Hassel-Shearer said the AGO will look into it.
Regarding the concern raised by former Lt. Gov. Jesus C. Borja, the Democratic candidate, Hassel-Shearer said early voters who lied about their reasons for voting early will be fined up to $5,000 and get up to five years imprisonment for perjury.
However, Hassel-Shearer said even if a voter is found guilty of perjury, this will not void his vote.
She said illegal votes are those cast by persons not qualified to vote because of failure to meet age, domiciliary or residency requirements or have cast more than one ballot in the same election.
She said “citizens have a fundamental right to vote and therefore even if a voter committed perjury in order to vote early that ballot cannot be voided as their vote would not constitute an ‘illegal vote’ under the law.
Hassel-Shearer also reminded all government employees that they should not be campaigning during working hours.
“They should take annual leave if they want to campaign for a candidate,” she added.
The election board on Saturday also finalized the procedure in preparing the absentee and early voting ballots for tabulation.
On Election Day, tomorrow, the board will meet at the election commission office in Susupe at 4:30 p.m. and, along with two observers from each political camp, will pick up absentee ballots at the post office in Chalan Kanoa and the early voting ballots at the Department of Corrections.
At 7 p.m., when the polls are closed, the board, along with one observer from each camp, will begin the processing of absentee votes and early voting ballots.
These ballots will be counted on the same evening, and not on a later date as earlier reported.
Chairwoman Sablan said the votes for delegates will be counted on Tuesday evening, while the votes for initiatives will be counted on the following day.
