He said it is likely that the votes for candidates will be counted starting at around 7 p.m. on Nov. 2.
Results should be out by midnight, he added.
He said they can count the votes for the initiatives in the afternoon of the next day.
Guerrero at the same time said the commission will implement a new rule for the media coverage of the tabulation: only one reporter from each newspaper will be allowed to enter the multi-purpose center during the counting of the votes, but KSPN will be allowed to send in two: its reporter and cameraman.
When told about this unprecedented “rule,” former Rep. Tina Sablan, an Open Government Act proponent, described it as “totally absurd.”
Variety learned that Guerrero had not consulted with legal counsel before announcing his plan to restrict media access during the tabulation of votes.
Guerrero said all the ballots for the candidates, including those cast during the early voting period, will be tabulated at the same time.
Absentee ballots will be counted on a later date.
The commission said over 16,000 voters have registered for the Nov. 2 election.
Early voting
Assistant Attorney General, Meaghan Hassel-Shearer, in an e-mail, said the law allows a voter to meet only one of the criteria mentioned by P.L. 17-16 to cast his or her ballot during the early voting period that started last week.
Under P.L. 17-16, she added, a voter is allowed to vote early if he or she will be prevented from personally going to the polls and voting on election day because of the conduct of business; the necessity of travel; serving in the U.S. armed forces or the Merchant Marine; receiving treatment at a medical institution; government representation; or accompanying a member of the household who is engaged in an activity listed above.
Hassel-Shearer recognizes the concern about the number of early voters — over 1,000.
In previous years, she said the election office only received 400 emergency absentee ballot requests.
Voters should keep in mind that when they sign requests for early voting, “they are swearing under penalty of perjury,” she added.
She said if a voter is found later on to have lied, he or she is subject to fines up to $5,000 and imprisonment for up to five years.
“Therefore, we would strongly caution individuals against early voting unless they meet one of the requirements,” Hassel-Shearer said.
She said the Attorney General’s Office has also received more complaints regarding voter intimidation so “it is important to reiterate that the secrecy of one’s ballot cannot be broken.”
“Rest assured, no one will know who an individual has voted for,” she added.
Limited staff
Guerrero said the election office has limited staff and did not have funds to hire people for the early voting period.
Fortunately, he added, the law mandates the presence of the Department of Public Safety at the polling places.
“Right now, we are trying are all the best we can do,” Guerrero said.
