GEC set to discuss election reform override

by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - The Guam Election Commission meets this Wednesday and one of the items set for discussion is the Guam Legislature's recent override of Governor Eddie Calvo's veto of Bill 413. The legislation provides for election reform but the democrat majority included a provision that would require an audit of the 2010 general election.

Executive director Maria Pangelinan had stated that she was concerned about the audit provision as her agency may not have the funding to carry out the mandate. "So one of the things I must say is it says the Guam election commission must conduct the audit, as far as that's concerned, how that comes about is dependent on how the commission wants to deal with it," she said.

She adds even without the law, the Commission is looking into a deficit before the end of this fiscal year because of the Proposal "A" initiative placed on the general election ballot. She adds the initiative cost the GEC around $75,000 and was not included in the GEC's budget request. The audit meanwhile must be conducted within 45 days of the law's enactment.

The GEC is set to meet Wednesday at 5:32pm at the GCIC Building in Hagatna.