Voters were decisive in their decision to approve on Tuesday three legislative initiatives that were on the ballot: one that calls for a convention to propose changes to the NMI Constitution, another that amends the blood quantum formula to be considered of Northern Marianas descent, and one that raises the budget threshold of public schools in the Commonwealth. <\/p>\n
All three initiatives\u2014House Bill 18-5, House Legislative Initiative 18-1, and House Legislative Initiative 18-12\u2014received a majority of \u201cyes\u201d votes from CNMI voters on election day. The results are deemed unofficial until certified by the Commonwealth Election Commission. <\/p>\n
According to Article 18 Section 5(b) of the CNMI Constitution, an amendment proposed by legislative initiative becomes effective if approved by a majority of the votes cast.<\/p>\n
The constitutional convention initiative, House Bill 18-5, received 7,633 \u201cyes\u201d votes and a total of 3,953 \u201cno\u201d votes. <\/p>\n
Under Section 2 of Article 18 of the CNMI Constitution, the Legislature may submit to voters the question of whether or not they desire another constitutional convention.<\/p>\n
Majority of both legislative chambers passed the bill to put the question on the ballot. With its passage in Tuesday\u2019s election, a constitutional convention may be held to propose amendments to the Constitution in the future. <\/p>\n
House Legislative Initiative 18-1 garnered a total of 5,895 \u201cyes\u201d votes and 5,453 \u201cno\u201d votes.<\/p>\n
With the passage of this initiative, voters agreed to amend Article 12, Section 4 of the CNMI Constitution to permit any U.S citizen with \u201cat least some degree\u201d of Chamorro or Carolinian blood to be considered a person of Northern Marianas descent and can therefore own land in the CNMI. Article 12 restricts landownership in the CNMI to those considered NMD.<\/p>\n
House Legislative Initiative 18-12, which increases the CNMI Public School System\u2019s 15 percent annual government appropriation by 10 percentage points, earned 7,826 \u201cyes\u201d votes and 3,958 \u201cno\u201d votes. <\/p>\n
The Public School System\u2019s annual government appropriation will now be increased to 25 percent because the majority of votes favored the budget increase. <\/p>\n
CNMI Board of Education student representative Loria Hocog told Saipan Tribune she is thankful for the voters\u2019 support.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 25 percent that PSS will now receive will enhance the environment and education of the future leaders of the CNMI,\u201d she said. \u201cThe voters have spoken.\u201d<\/p>\n
Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan echoed Hocog\u2019s sentiments. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am grateful for the vote of confidence from the electorate on H.L.I 18-12 and in believing that the CNMI should invest 25 percent of the CNMI revenue in education and for our children,\u201d she said in an interview. \u201cThis is certainly history in the making and our work to continuously improve our school system and make it the best in the region will now move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s election had a record-breaking number 17,986 registered voters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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