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93 percent turnout in polls
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Posted on Nov 07 2005
This year’s general election drew a total of 12,511 voters to the polls or 93 percent of the number of registered voters within the Commonwealth.
The turnout matches the number of ballots counted after polls closed on Saturday evening.
In the 2001 general elections that saw Gov. Juan N. Babauta winning the race, election officials placed the turnout at 78 percent.
In Saturday’s polls, about half of the total ballots cast came from Precinct 1, the biggest election district. Ninety-two percent of the 5,556 registered poll voters in Precinct 1 visited the polling places in San Antonio, San Vicente, Koblerville, Kagman, and Northern Marianas College on Election Day.
Precinct 2 reported a turnout of 94 percent. Only 57 of the 899 registered poll voters in Chalan Kanoa and Susupe failed to cast their vote.
Precinct 3, the second biggest election district, had a 92-percent turnout. This includes 821 voters from Oleai, 1,591 from Garapan, and 99 from the Northern Islands.
Only 146 of the 2,011 registered poll voters in Precinct 4 failed to cast their ballots. The 93-percent turnout in Precinct 4 includes 535 voters from Tanapag, 437 from San Roque, and 893 from Capitol Hill.
The turnout reached 94 percent on Tinian, with 986 of the 1,053 poll voters participating in the election.
Rota posted the highest poll voter turnout at 96 percent. Only 51 of the 1,255 poll voters on Rota failed to make it to the polling places.
Northern Marianas College history and current affairs instructor Sam McPhetres observed Saturday that the 2005 general election could be the most important since the Commonwealth government adopted its Constitution in 1977.
“Look at the issues we have. Some of them are out of our control—bird flu, what’s happening with the garment industry. But we still have to deal with issues within the CNMI. Those are not just any kind of problem; they concern the people’s bread and butter,” McPhetres said.
