All External Voting for FSM National Elections on March 2nd, 2021 to Occur Through Absentee Ballots; Ballots May Be Requested November 2nd, But You Can Register to Vote Today

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FSM Information Services

Public Service Announcement

All External Voting for FSM National Elections on March 2nd, 2021 to Occur Through Absentee Ballots; Ballots May Be Requested November 2nd, But You Can Register to Vote Today

 

PALIKIR, Pohnpei—This week, His Excellency David W. Panuelo—President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)—received the Honorable Ioanis Sahm, Acting Director of the National Election Office, to discuss the forthcoming March 2nd, 2021 election for two-year seats in the FSM Congress. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, President Panuelo and Acting Director Sahm agreed that it is in the public’s best interest that all voters living outside of the FSM register for an absentee ballot instead of physically showing up to vote at a Special Polling Place.

 

There will be no Special Polling Places in Guam, Honolulu, or Portland et al. for the March 2nd, 2021 election. All FSM citizens of voting age and living abroad will be required to register for an absentee ballot.

 

Section 602 of Title 9 of the FSM Code requires citizens to request to vote by absentee ballot not more than 120 days, but also not less than 40 days, before Election Day. The FSM National Election Office can start formally receiving absentee ballot requests on November 2nd, 2020.

 

In the time prior to formal acceptance of requests for voting by absentee ballot on November 2nd, 2020, President Panuelo instructed the Division of Communication within the Department of Transportation, Communication, & Infrastructure to redevelop the FSM National Election Office website so that its services are intuitively accessible.

 

Voting in national elections is the right, and responsibility, of all adult FSM citizens. Voter registration remains ongoing.  Fill out your registration form here: http://fsmned.fm/PDF/voterregistration_applicationform.pdf

 

For more information on the March 2nd, 2021, FSM election, please call the FSM National Election Office at (691) 320-7805 or send a message through their website’s contact form at: http://fsmned.fm/contact.htm