CEC mulls reverting to manual tabulation

The Commonwealth Election Commission board is considering reverting back to manual tabulation for the upcoming general elections this Nov. 5 due to the long delay in tabulation experienced during the previous election.

During a CEC board meeting last week, CEC board member Remedio Sablan made a motion to consider reverting to manual tabulation for the upcoming Nov. 5 general elections.

Sablan said the proposal stems from complaints made by candidates and members of the community regarding the last elections.

During the last election season, tabulations started over three hours after ballots arrived at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center with results being announced the next morning.

Sablan stated that she heard the reason for the delay was due to the tabulation machine malfunctioning. However, CEC executive director Kayla Igitol explains that there was no malfunction with the machine and that it was due to the former CEC chairman’s decision to start tabulations late.

Sablan explained that before tabulation machines were used, the CEC hired tabulators who counted votes by hand and more often than not, tabulations results were in within a few hours.

In addition, she states that with actual people doing the tabulating, there is no issue of malfunctions.

However, Igitol, for her part, explained that it would be difficult to implement manual tabulation for this year’s elections as it would take a lot of preparation to include proper training.

In response to this, Sablan said there are many retirees who served as tabulators in the past who are beyond qualified to tabulate election results.

Board members also raised concerns about accountability and ensuring that all tabulation results are fair.

Other concerns raised were the cost for hiring tabulators and the time frame to hire tabulators.

Despite the concerns, Sablan was adamant and asked that the CEC calculate how much it would cost to hire tabulators and to bring it before the board for a decision.

According to a previous article on the Saipan Tribune CEC has already been preparing for the upcoming elections.

Igitol shared that preparations have been running smoothly with no significant challenges.

Igitol shared that preparations include poll workers training, requests for transportation, securing polling sites, and preparation of ballots, boxes, and voting booths.

“We have poll workers training until Oct. 3 at 5:30pm each night at the [Pedro P. Tenorio] Multi-Purpose [Center]. That’s one of the things we’ve been doing in preparation for the elections. We also have coordinated all our requests for transportation in regard to chartering our flights to Tinian and Rota, and bus transportation for our poll workers. [Lastly], we’ve secured polling sites, and we have prepared nearly everything like ballots, supply boxes, and voting booths,” she said.

During the meeting, Igitol also released the official list of polling sites.

The polling places are as follows:

Election District Precinct 1A (San Antonio Area)

Hopwood Junior High School Cafeteria (Football field entrance)

Precinct 1B-1 (San Vicente/Dandan Area)

1B-2 (San Vicente/Dandan Area)

Dandan Middle School Cafeteria (Dandan baseball/softball field entrance)

Precinct 1C (Koblerville Area)

Koblerville Elementary School (Cafeteria)

Precinct 2 (Chalan Kanoa/Susupe Area)

Joeten/Kiyu Public Library (Front entrance)

Precinct 3A (San Jose/Oleai)

Oleai Elementary School Cafeteria (Front entrance)

Precinct 3B-1 (Garapan Area)

3B-2 (Garapan Area)

Garapan Elementary School Cafeteria (Northern entrance)

Precinct 4A (Tanapag Area)

Tanapag Youth Center (Main entrance)

Precinct 4B (San Roque/As Matius Area)

Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School Cafeteria (Main)

Precinct 4C (Capitol Hill Area)

Jesus P. Manas Legislative Building (House Chamber)

Precinct 4D (Northern Islands)

Alamagan, Pagan and Agrigan

Precinct 5-1 (Kagman Area)

5-2 (Kagman Area)

Chacha Oceanview Middle School (Cafeteria)

Precinct 6 (Tinian & Aguiguan)

Tinian Elementary School Cafeteria

Precinct 7 (Rota)

Rota-Northern Marianas College Room B-2 (Main entrance)

All polling places for the general election will open at 7am and close at 7pm on Nov. 5.

As mandated by 1 CMC §6218 (a), voters must ensure that they bring with them a pictured ID as they will be required to present it in order to be issued a ballot at the polls.

For more information, contact the Commonwealth Election Commission at 235-8683 (VOTE).