‘Polling booths termite-ridden, sustained water damage due to Soudelor’

Polling booths on Saipan need to be assessed because of termites and water damage caused by last year’s Typhoon Soudelor’s destruction, while those on Tinian and Rota are going to be replaced due of the same problem, according to the Commonwealth Election Commission.

As this developed, the administration has granted the request of CEC for $50,000 in additional funding due to their short budget.

At the CEC board meeting on Wednesday, Rota commissioner Leilani Manglona requested if they can replace all the five or six polling booths on Rota because they’re termite-ridden.

Acting CEC executive director Julita A. Villagomez and Tinian commissioner Donald Hofschneider said polling booths on Tinian also need replacement.

There are about 10 booths for Tinian and Rota, and 100 for Saipan, according to Villagomez.

CEC board chair Frances M. Sablan said probably the booths for Saipan should also be assessed.

Villagomez said they are now in the process of conducting assessment of the booths on Saipan.

The Saipan polling booths, which are made up of plywood, are being stored at the Division of Procurement & Supply.

Villagomez and CEC administrative officer Kayla S. Igitol told Saipan Tribune yesterday that after completing their assessment, they will get a contractor for replacement of those damaged booths.

On the issue of designated polling places, Villagomez and Sablan agreed during the board meeting that it’s going to be the same places as the previous elections.

Villagomez said they are in the process of requesting the Public School System, Youth Center, Ada Gym, the Joeten Kiyu Public Library, and the Rota Northern Marianas College, to prepare their facilities as designated polling places.

On the matter of additional funding, in an interview after the board meeting, Villagomez said they met with acting governor Victor Hocog after an emergency call on Tuesday and that Hocog granted the release of $50,000 for CEC.

At the board meeting, Villagomez said the $50,000 will take care of some of CEC’s previous obligations and for supplies for the upcoming election.

She said $35,000 will be for all other expenses, while the remaining $15,000 will be under personnel for CEC to hire five temporary personnel for the election.

Sablan asked how much more they need for the election if the $50,000 is only partial.

Villagomez replied that they have not figured out the amount yet, but that right now they’re paying off all of the most important ones such as the gas and the car rentals so that way they can get them again for the coming election.

Villagomez also stated that CEC has three new employees after they fulfilled the FTEs.

“So they are permanent now with us,” she said.

Villagomez said they have one “loaner” employee from the Governor’s Office.

All in all, aside from the “loaner,” CEC has four employees, including Villagomez.

Villagomez said they need five temporary workers up to December and that the $15,000 will be allocated for these temporary employees.

Villagomez said they can also tap from other government agencies to work overtime during the election.