BOE urges voters to register for 2001 polls

In preparation for the local election this November, the Commonwealth Election Commission urged yesterday the public to take advantage of the ongoing registration of eligible voters of the Northern Marianas.

Election Executive Director Gregorio C. Sablan said qualified voters may register during government business hours at the Office of the Election Commission in Capitol Hill.

At present, there are about 14,851 registered voters in the Commonwealth, but Mr. Sablan said a thousand more are expected to register including US nationals from other areas who resettled on the islands.

The commission has been asking the US Census 2000 office to provide them at least an initial report of the census done in the Commonwealth to give them information on how many qualified voters are now in the the CNMI.

Census 2000, however, explained that although sample data was released to the United States, other states and territories has to wait for several more months.

A person is eligible to vote if he/she is 18 years of age or older on Nov. 3, 2001, domiciled in the Commonwealth, or has resided in the Commonwealth at least 120 days prior to the day of election.

In addition to this, eligibility might be forfeited if he has been declared by a court to be judicially insane or serving a sentence for a felony.

Eligible individuals cam register for the 2001 regular general election up to Sep. 14, 2001.

In November this year, voters are expected to troop down to various election precinct to vote for the next governor, lieutenant governor, resident representative to Washington DC, members of the Legislature, mayors and the members of the Municipal Council.