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Primary election for delegate
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Posted on May 29 2008
We gave many fine candidates for Washington Delegate—perhaps too many. And there are likely to be more individual seeking to represent the CNMI in Congress.
Under the U.S. Public Law 110-229, the election will be based upon a plurality vote unless the Legislature enacts a law that provides for primary elections for the election of the Delegate. If the CNMI law provides for primaries, the election for Delegate will be by majority vote. Majority means 50 percent plus one.
The CNMI had about 11,000 voters last year in the general election. Let us say we end up with eight candidates for Washington Delegate. Just 1,500 votes or less could win the seat. The individual who flies off to Washington, grinning from ear to ear, to sit in a fancy office and speak for the CNMI will not have the support or backing of seven-eights of the voters.
The importance of the Washington Delegate cannot be denied. The CNMI needs an effective voice in Washington, not someone placed there because of the views or position accepted only by a small minority. A more effective and reflective voice can be determined by a majority vote.
The Legislature should enact legislation providing for primaries for the Delegate election.
[B]Dick Pierce[/B] [I]San Vicente, Saipan[/I]
