by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - This Friday marks the deadline for interested vendors to submit their bids to the Guam Election Commission for its quest to purchase new election equipment. GEC executive director Maria Pangelinan says about half a dozen vendors have shown interest in providing new central tabulators for this year's general election.

"We want to make sure the tabulation equipment is here just so you know, we've also been tasked to do a contingency should it not come through, so we have that also ready just in case the tabulation equipment doesn't come," he said.

It was last year when the GEC's current vendor recommended the agency discontinue using its 20 year old machines. Pangelinan says while she's confident the equipment will arrive in time for this year's election, the GEC is putting together a "trigger deadline" to begin the process of repairing the old equipment just in case. The bids are due by 2pm on March 14 to the GEC.