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Group says police presence will deter Election Day fraud
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Posted on Nov 03 2008
[B]HAGATNA, Guam[/B]—The KEEP GUAM GOOD coalition insists that police presence on Election Day is essential to maintaining order.
They made the statement following a report on KUAM quoting police chief Paul Suba saying that no police presence will be available on Election Day and the Guam Election Commission Director John Blas’s reaction that the lack of law enforcement may result in a legal challenge to election results.
The group is concerned that the lack of police escort in transporting ballot boxes to poll sites, being present around poll sites and again transporting the ballot boxes from the poll sites to the University of Guam could result in Election Day fraud.
According to the news report, Blas cited the Guam Election Commission policy dating back to 1974 and the Supreme Court of Guam’s 2006 ruling, and stated that they are intended to mandate police presence throughout the voting process to act as a deterrent to possible election fraud. Blas indicated that not complying with the law’s mandate opens the possibility of legal challenges to the Election’s results.
Lina’la Sin Casino president Dr. Jose Cruz stated, “It is vital that the Guam Police Department be present at every single point which exposes the Guam Election Commission and the ballot boxes. Leaving open the possibility for election fraud should not be tolerated. We call on our government leaders and officials to assure that the GEC complies with the law in assuring law enforcement at every single point in the voting process.”
KEEP GUAM GOOD is a coalition of concerned citizens from the legal, business, academic, religious, cultural and social communities of Guam whose mission is to educate Guam’s citizens and work to defeat Proposal A. For additional information, please contact Dr. Jose Cruz at 864-9705. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]
