by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco Gatewood has approved a stipulated supplemental order in the federal government's case against the local government and the Guam Election Commission. The order outlines the steps the GEC will take to ensure that they comply with the Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Part of that order requires the Commission to establish e-mail as the electronic means by which UOCAVA voters can receive absentee ballots. The Commission has until Monday to notify each UOCAVA voter that they have the option of receiving their absentee ballot by e-mail or mail.

According to GEC executive director Maria Pangelinan, that notification has already occurred and is posted on the Commission's website. The order also requires the Commission to transmit the absentee ballots via fax, mail and e-mail no later than next Wednesday, which GEC executive director Maria Pangelinan says will occur.