Candidates’ pamphlets now available for ’09 aspirants

The Commonwealth Election Commission has started issuing the candidates’ pamphlets for the November 2009 elections.

The commission said that prospective candidates may now pick up the pamphlets at its office on Capital Hill.

In her message to interested candidates, acting executive director Julita A. Villagomez said their “willingness to serve a position of public trust strengthens the foundations of a democratic system and provides voters with more choices at the polls.”

The pamphlet, she said, contains information that may be useful to the candidates.

The 24-page document presents important dates for the elections, such as the last day to establish lawful residency requirement and the first day of submission of nominating petitions and candidacy documents, both on July 10.

The last day for submission of nominating petitions and candidacy documents will be on Aug. 10, while the request for absentee ballots will start on Sept. 8.

The last day for voter registration for the Nov. 7, 2009, general election is on Sept. 18, while the last day for the commission’s action on nominating petitions and candidacy documents is Sept. 23.

For the application to vote in another municipality, the deadline is Oct. 8 while the designation of polling places is Oct. 23.

Other important dates to remember are the deadline for application for absentee voting (Oct. 28), absentee voting for emergency absence (Oct. 29), posting/distribution of specimen ballots (Oct. 31), and last day for absentee voting for emergency absence (Nov. 6).

The elective offices for nomination include the governor, lt. governor, mayors (Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Northern Islands), senators, representatives, municipal councilors and Board of Education.

The available seats for the Senate are two for Rota, two for Tinian and Aguiguan and two for Saipan and the Northern Islands.

The available seats for the House of Representatives are six for District 1, two for District 2, six for District 3, two for District 4, two for District 5, and one each for districts 6 and 7.

The pamphlet also contains the qualification requirements for interested candidates, and the process for filing, including the required signatures and filing fees.

The document also identifies the different recognized political parties: the Covenant, Democratic and the Republican.

However, candidates not affiliated with a recognized political party may still run as an independent.

A voter may also organize to form a political party, which may have a place on the ballot and have the names of their candidates identified with the party’s name.

The pamphlet also discussed the issue of campaign financial disclosure.

It also provides forms for organization reports, candidates’ committees, candidacy certification, waiver, certification of nomination by recognized political party, and nominating petition for candidates for public office.