Overview:
A proposed bill in the House of Delegates would require absentee ballots in national elections to be returned and counted on Election Day, ending the current seven-day waiting period that often delays final election results.
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
NGERULMUD, Palau — Lawmakers move to end the post-election delay before counting absentee ballots. A bill introduced in the House of Delegates this week would require absentee ballots in national elections to be counted on the same day as all other ballots, ending the current seven-day waiting period after Election Day.
House Bill No. 12-42-5, introduced Wednesday, proposes amending Title 23 of the Palau National Code, which governs election laws and voting rights. Under the proposal, absentee ballots would need to be returned to the Palau Election Commission no later than Election Day to be eligible for counting.
Currently, national law allows absentee ballots to be counted up to seven days after a general election, a provision lawmakers say delays final results and creates uncertainty for candidates and voters.
Bill sponsor Delegate Ngirchoimei of Airai said the change would allow election officials to complete vote tabulation more efficiently while treating all ballots equally.
“The bill will enable absentee ballots to be counted along with the rest of the votes cast following an election, eliminating the waiting period which delays the completion of vote tabulation,” Ngirchoimei said.
She noted that Koror State adopted a similar requirement during its November state election, mandating that all absentee ballots be tallied on the same day as in-person votes. Ngirchoimei said the approach promotes fairness, uniformity and equal treatment of all ballots.
“This proposal promotes fairness and uniformity and equal treatment for all ballots cast,” she said.
Ngirchoimei added that the bill applies only to national elections, while states would continue to have the authority to establish their own election laws. States without their own voting regulations would follow national election standards.
Public reaction to the proposal has been mixed but largely supportive.
A 30-year-old voter working at Belau National Hospital said the bill would reduce prolonged uncertainty after elections.
“For every election, we have to wait for absentee ballots just to know which candidate won,” she said. “It is not fair to the candidates or to voters in Palau. Absentee ballots are always few, but they keep the whole country waiting.”
Others said the proposal raises broader questions about election reform.
A 33-year-old student attending Eastern Oregon University said that while the bill is well-intended, she believes absentee voting should be reconsidered entirely.
“Since moving to the U.S. four years ago, I have never requested an absentee ballot,” she said. “The people in Palau should be the ones deciding who will be the next president and senators.”
Delegate Sinsak of Ngarchelong also voiced support for the bill, citing changes in how absentee ballot applications are processed.
“With today’s technology, ballot request applications are filled out and submitted online,” Sinsak said. “The timeline needs to reflect current practices while still allowing enough time for ballots to be requested, mailed and returned by Election Day.”
The bill passed its first reading and was referred to the House Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Affairs for further review.