Some say that these early voters were being mobilized by a political camp — the ruling Covenant Party.
Commonwealth Election Commission Executive Director Robert Guerrero said the number of people participating in the early voting period is raising eyebrows.
The criteria for early voting as provided in Public Law 17-16 include business activity, necessity of travel, military and merchant marine service, medical treatment, government representation and the ties to those doing these.
But the number of people lining up at the election office to vote early has cast doubt on their eligibility to vote early.
Over the weekend, many of these voters were seen filling out application forms they received from people in the tent set up by the Covenant Party across from the election office.
Guerrero said they received reports that many voters were getting forms from Covenant Party supporters.
He said they immediately asked the party’s supporters to stop doing it.
Guerrero admitted that they did not anticipate that there would be a lot of early voters.
The CNMI has over 16,000 registered voters.
Guerrero said those who voted early claimed they could not cast their ballots on election day.
“If you come to us and cite reasons for voting early, we are not in the position to say whether you are lying or not,” Guerrero said, adding that the law does not mandate them to check the validity of a voter’s reasons for voting early.
But if there is strong reason to believe that the early voter is lying, Guerrero said “it is something that we have to look into.”
Rep. Eliceo D. Cabrera, R-Saipan and author of P.L. 17-16, admitted that they are counting on the honesty of early voters.
The law, he said, does not mandate the election office to require the voter to show proof of meeting early voting criteria.
“It is all about honesty on the part of the individual. The noblest thing to do is do the right thing,” Cabrera said.
Guerrero said despite limited staff, the election office is doing all it can to enforce the 300-foot radius prohibition of campaign activity.
Covenant Party supporters said their tent across from the election office is on privately owned land.
Guerrero said it was beyond their control if there were people who cast their ballots after visiting the Covenant tent.
But if there were voters who were intimidated, he said “it is something that the AG’s office and law enforcers have to look into.”
