Aug. 6 is the deadline to submit nomination petitions for the delegate’s post.
The popular initiative proposes to apply the Open Government Act to lawmakers.
Deputy Attorney General Greg Baka, in a letter to the Commonwealth Election Commission, said the Nov. 4 delegate election is considered a special election.
He said the popular initiative cannot be placed on the ballot unless the Legislature widens the definition of a “regular election.”
“In my view, under current law, the federal general election is not a ‘regular general election,’ and hence not currently the proper time to cast ballots on voter initiatives,” said Baka. “Nevertheless, it is possible that between now and Wednesday, 6 August 2008, the Legislature may expand the statutory definition of ‘regular general election.’”
Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, said he supports Rep. Tina Sablan’s popular initiative.
But he said he is not aware of any legislative effort to address the possible legal conflict regarding the definition of a regular election.
So far, close to 3,000 registered voters have signed the petition, but these signatures have to be verified by the Attorney General’s Office.
“It is important that we verify the signatures by Wednesday, 6 August 2008, if possible, which would be the deadline for AG certification,” Baka told the election commission. “Indeed, if the [commission] can do so, it would be best to verify them by Monday, 7 July 2008 or before, to give the proponents close to another month to gather more signatures if necessary….”
According to the CNMI Constitution, an initiative petition must be signed by at least 20 percent of the persons qualified to vote in the CNMI. It will become law if approved by two-thirds of the votes cast.
Thus far, more than 12,000 voters have registered with the election commission.
