A law that dictates the minimum distance non-voting individuals have to be from a polling station is silent on how it applies to the media\u2014a lack that proved problematic at a polling station in Garapan last Tuesday, particularly since it created a minor misunderstanding between the Office of the Attorney General and the media.<\/p>\n
Reporters were directed to stay at least 300 feet away from the Garapan Roundhouse at the Garapan Central Park, despite displaying their Commonwealth Election Commission-issued media passes.<\/p>\n
An OAG representative assigned to the Garapan Roundhouse asserted that the statute includes the media, as he showed Saipan Tribune a group discussion of OAG higher-ups directing representatives to include media personnel.<\/p>\n
In a phone call to the OAG around 9:49am, it was learned that the rule was the result of the structure of the Garapan Roundhouse, which housed the polls.<\/p>\n
The OAG representative at the Garapan Roundhouse noted that it was the first time to ever use the facility for an election and the facility is not enclosed and poses a possible problem since voters were visible at a certain angle.<\/p>\n
Around 10:40am Tuesday, assistant attorney general Charles Brasington arrived to clarify the issue. He noted that, as long as the media stays within the entrance area, there would be no issue.<\/p>\n
Brasington further reiterated that taking pictures of ballots and people voting were prohibited.<\/p>\n
According to poll staff at the Garapan Roundhouse, 1,521 voters cast their votes in the facility from 8am to 2pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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