Poll body gets over 300 absentee applications

The Commonwealth Election Commission has received over 300 applications for absentee ballots for the Nov. 5, 2005 general election.

Gregorio Sablan, the commission’s executive director, said about 1,200 more applications are expected to be filed before the Oct. 26 deadline by registered voters who would be away from home on election day.

The estimated 1,500 absentee voters represent about 10 percent of the current number of registered voters, which total 13,081 as of yesterday.

Sablan said the commission would mail out the ballots to these absentee voters as soon as the printing of the election material is completed, expected in mid-September 2005.

All registered voters who expect to be away from the Commonwealth on Nov. 5 may cast their ballots by absentee voting.

To vote by absentee ballot, a registered voter must complete and submit to the commission an application to vote by absentee voting by Oct. 26.

Registered voters who are presently away from the Northern Mariana Islands and expect to be away on election day may download the form at http://www.votecnmi.gov.mp/downloads/absentee_ballot.pdf, provide the information requested on the form and mail the form to the Commonwealth Election Commission, P. O. Box 500470, Saipan, MP, 96950-0470.

All applicants must provide the commission an address where the applicant expects to be in mid-September or in October 2005. Applicants who provide the commission with an address and then changed addresses will have their ballots mailed to the address on record and this may delay the applicant’s receipt of their ballot and thus delay their casting their ballot by Nov. 5.

Registered voters outside the Northern Mariana Islands must also have their absentee voting applications completed and postmarked not later than Oct. 26, 2005. All applications to vote via absentee voting after the Oct. 26, 2005 deadline must be made by personal delivery by the applicant to the commission’s office, must be for emergency or unanticipated absence from the Northern Mariana Islands, and must be approved by the executive director.

Only registered voters can apply to vote by absentee voting and ballots for absentee voting will only be provided to only those that apply.

Those serving in the Armed Forces are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Troops of Echo Company, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, may obtain an application form from Sgt. Peter Towai or may download the form at the address given above. Service men and women in other locations should download the form from the address given above.