Bill to allow voting at any polling place on Election Day

Paul A. Manglona

SENATOR Paul A. Manglona is introducing Senate Bill 23-68, which would allow registered voters to cast their ballot at any polling precinct on Election Day.

As an example, the bill cited Tinian voters who are on Saipan for medical treatment, government representation or accompanying a family member.

Early voting allows eligible voters to cast their ballot before Election Day if they cannot be physically present on that day due to a necessity of travel, serving in the U.S. armed forces or if they are receiving medical treatment.

According to S.B. 23-68, those eligible for early voting are allowed to cast their ballot at any polling place, except on Election Day. “This means that a Tinian voter who is on Saipan on Election Day has to return to Tinian to vote.” This requirement “does not make any sense,” the bill stated.

S.B. 23-68 would amend Commonwealth election law to allow any registered voter to vote at any polling place on Election Day.

Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan, in an interview, said based on the number of absentee ballots in the last gubernatorial election, there were between 100 and 150 Tinian voters who reside on Saipan. These Tinian registered voters usually cast their votes early if they cannot make it to Tinian on Election Day.

The mayor said Tinian has about 1,600 voters, including absentee voters.

He said if S.B. 23-68 becomes law, the Commonwealth Election Commission would have to designate ballot boxes for Tinian or Rota voters in each of the polling precincts of Saipan. This, he added, will be an additional burden for the CEC.