KOROR, Palau — Koror State has passed a new law requiring absentee ballots to be counted on the same day as elections, aiming to deliver faster results and boost voter confidence.
Koror State Public Law No. K12-365-2024 mandates that absentee ballots in any state election — primary, runoff, special, or general — must be counted after polls close on election day.
The law’s findings say counting absentee ballots alongside in-person votes will deliver “swift, decisive” results, reduce stress for candidates and voters, and strengthen the integrity and transparency of the process.
It also claims the move will enhance public confidence and improve the efficiency of the election system.
Under the new rules, registered voters must request absentee ballots from the Election Commission no more than 90 days and no fewer than seven days before an election.
Koror is the first state in Palau to adopt same-day absentee ballot counting, replacing the previous system where absentee votes were counted seven days after election day. The Palau Election Commission will need to update its regulations to implement the change.