Palau: Slim lead for incumbent in Palau election – Absentee votes to decide result | Radio New Zealand

The Electoral Commission said absentee votes, which will be counted after the 8th of November, will decide the outcome of the national election. But the Election Service Administrator Elenita Bennie Brel said the final result will not be announced until later this month. Elenita Bennie Brel said this is partly due to electoral provisions but is also because the absentee ballots will be sorted and counted manually in-front of representatives of the candidates.

Palau: Brothers-in-law vying for presidency | The Independent

The Pacific island nation of Palau goes to the polls Tuesday with two brothers-in-law vying to become president – and they admit it’s made for some awkward conversations at the family dinner table. The election pits incumbent Tommy Remengesau against Surangel Whipps Jr. after they emerged as the leading contenders in a run-off vote in September. Whipps is married to Remengesau’s sister but has not let family ties constrain his campaign as he seeks to end his rival’s 12 years in office. The challenger has campaigned on a platform of change, pointing to social problems in the nation of 22,000, which lies about 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) east of the Philippines.

Palau: Court ruling sought to delay election in Palau | Marianas Variety

Palau’s Congressional Reapportionment Commission is seeking a court ruling to delay this year’s general election scheduled for Nov. 1, stating that a postponement to Nov. 8 will guarantee absentee voters the opportunity to vote in the upcoming general election. Represented by their counsel Assistant Attorney General Allison Trout, the commission called for the postponement of the election through a motion filed Friday afternoon. The postponement, the motion stated, will give time for the election commission to send out absentee ballots and off-islands voters will be able to mail it back to Palau by election day. Disenfranchisement of overseas voters looms pending the appellate division’s ruling on the make-up of the 11- or 13- member Senate.

Palau: Election Commission Bans Cell Phones to Prevent Vote Buying | Oceania Television Network

When voters went to the polls for the 2012 primary election in Palau they were greeted by a barrage of signs banning cell phones and cameras.  For the first time, cell phones were collected before voters were allowed to enter the voting booths.  This new rule was prompted by complaints to the Palau Election Commission of alleged vote-buying for walk-in voters that produced a photo of their vote.  Multiple sources have contacted OTV to advise that local radio and television host Alfonso Diaz was offering money to walk-in voters who took a picture of their ballot in the voting booth with presidential candidate Johnson Toribing marked.  Vote buying is a criminal offense in Palau subject to a fine and up to 1 year in prison for each individual offense.  The Palau Election Commission responded quickly after these complaints with the “No Cell Phones or Cameras” rule.