Specimen ballots for Nov. polls now out

Specimen ballots are now out, listing the names of candidates as they would appear on the ballot in the Nov. 5, 2005 general election.

The specimen ballots show the result of a drawing held on Aug. 10 to determine the position of the candidates on the ballot.

This election ’s ballot will feature a new design; it organizes the names of candidates by position or office, as opposed to the previous columnar format where names were listed according to political party.

In accordance with the drawing results, Republican Party’s standard bearers—incumbents Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente—appear on top of the list of candidates for the top post.

Democrats Froilan C. Tenorio and Antonio A. Santos come second in the list. Independent candidates Heinz S. Hofschneider and David M. Apatang follow; then, Covenant Party candidates Benigno R. Fitial and Timothy P. Villagomez.

In the race for the Washington representative’s position, Republican candidate Pedro A. Tenorio’s name appears before Covenant candidate Juan S. Demapan.

Separate ballots are prepared for different senatorial districts, precincts for the House of Representatives, and municipal governments.

Questions will also be posed on the retention of Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan, associate justice Alexandro C. Castro, and associate judge David A. Wiseman, as well as on whether or not there should be a Constitution Convention to propose amendments to the Constitution.

But the specimen ballots currently distributed to the candidates do not bear the names of candidates for the House of Representatives in the first election district. The Commonwealth Election Commission has yet to decide on the eligibility of Covenant candidate Rose Ada-Hocog to run for a seat in the House.

Earlier, CEC executive director Gregorio Sablan said the new design reflects the local people’s new voting behavior. Unlike in the past, very few voters now vote straight party lines, making it impractical to list candidates’ names according to political party.

By changing the ballot design, the commission also hopes to address a problem encountered during the last election concerning “overvotes” —or voters picking more candidates than the available slots in a particular office.

The new ballot design provides instructions informing voters of the number of seats available in a specific position.