Former ‘stateless’ can now register as voters

Hundreds of former “stateless” persons in the CNMI can now register with the Election Commission and vote in this year’s general elections.

Election Commission executive director Gregorio Sablan said yesterday that these individuals can just present their birth certificates when registering.

“Bring in a copy of the birth certificates and we’d register them,” said Sablan.

He said these people are now eligible to vote following a court ruling, which recognizes them as U.S. citizens.

“That’s the ruling of the court. Since the federal government didn’t appeal the case, we abide by the decision,” said Sablan.

The commission will hold voter’s registration for the 2005 elections until Sept. 16.

Deadline to vote in another municipality is set on Oct. 10, while the deadline for application for absentee voting is Oct. 26.

This year’s regular general election falls on Nov. 5.

There are some 200 “stateless” individuals who are currently on island. There originally were 300 of them but some of them have changed their status or have left the Commonwealth.

This group refers to children born to foreign parents in the Commonwealth from Jan. 9, 1978 to Nov. 4, 1986.

Their citizenship was finally affirmed this month after the U.S. government decided not to appeal a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling which favors the granting of U.S. citizenship to them.

Ninth Circuit Judge John T. Noonan ruled that applying the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution in the CNMI entitles those born in the Commonwealth during the period to become U.S. citizens.

Citizenship can be granted through a judicial remedy or an act of Congress.

Meantime, the Babauta administration earlier said that it is willing to petition concerned federal agencies to expedite the processing and issuance of U.S. passports to the individuals.

Authorities believe that it may take a little longer than normal to process the “stateless” passports owing to the nature of their case.

The administration said it would provide agencies with the complete list of “stateless” individuals.

The administration’s official list only contains over 100 names.