1,258 absentee received to date, 463 confine and prior voting
BY: L.N. Reklai
September 29, 2016 (Koror) Unofficial results of the recently held 2016 Primary Election show incumbent President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. ahead of the other candidates with 3,764. Surangel Whipps Jr. is close behind with 2,985. Sandra Pierantozzi garnered 657 and Antonio Bells follows with 239.
[restrict]
For the VP position, Raynold “Arnold’ Oilouch leads with 3,552 followed by Yositaka Adachi with 2,399 and Mlib Tmetuch with 1,694.
The Palau proper and central vote casts for presidential candidates shows Remengesau leading in most States but with small margin between him and Surangel Whipps Jr. The gap between the two leading vote getters and the remaining 2 candidates is quite high with over 2,000 votes difference between Surangel and Sandra.
For VP, Arnold is ahead of Adachi by over 1,000 votes and Tmetuchl by almost 2,000 votes.
According to Palau Election record, as of September 28, 2016, 1,258 out of the 2,749 absentee ballots sent out, 1,258 have been received. They will continue to receive absentee ballots until October 4, 2016. Confine votes and votes cast prior to election due to temporary absence from Palau during election total 463.
These are all slated to be opened and counted on October 4, 2016.
On September 26, 2016, a motion for Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was filed to restrain Palau Election Commission from opening and counting absentee ballots. It remains to be seen if the tabulation of absentee ballots will take place. [/restrict]