By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
Koror, Palau – Today marks the final day for absentee ballot requests in Palau’s upcoming election, according to the Palau Election Commission (PEC). As of last Tuesday, October 22, PEC reported receiving 2,693 absentee ballot requests, all of which have been mailed out to voters.
Over the past week, PEC continued to receive additional absentee ballot requests, though the final count has not yet been determined. PEC stated that information on the final tally of ballot requests will be available after the request deadline closes.
As of yesterday, PEC confirmed that 139 walk-in votes have been cast by voters planning to travel outside Palau before Election Day. Additionally, some absentee ballots mailed from abroad have already been received, although PEC is still in the process of updating the exact number of ballots returned.
The current total of absentee ballot requests surpasses the 2,393 requests received during the 2020 national election, suggesting an increase in absentee voter participation this year.