Bill proposes removing ancestry requirement from political status vote

Legislation that could reshape Guam’s long-delayed political status plebiscite is now before lawmakers. Bill 242 by Senator William Parkinson would remove ancestry-based voter restrictions from Guam’s political status law – expanding participation in a future plebiscite to all qualified voters on island. 

The proposal follows the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ 2019 decision in Davis v. Guam, which found that limiting the vote to “native inhabitants of Guam” violated the fifteenth amendment’s protections against race-based voting restrictions.

Under current law, “native inhabitants” are defined as those who were present on Guam at the time and became United States citizens under the 1950 Organic Act and their descendants. 

The court determined that classification functioned as a proxy for race and was therefore unconstitutional.

In the bill’s findings, Parkinson acknowledges the historical injustices endured by the CHamoru people and Guam’s ongoing struggles as a non-self-governing territory. 

He states that while decolonization efforts continue, Guam must align its laws with constitutional requirements.

If enacted, the bill would allow any registered voter in Guam to participate in the political status plebiscite.

The public hearing on Bill 242 is scheduled for this Wednesday at 9am at the Guam Congress Building.