Decision 2024 nears as the November 5th midterm election takes shape. And the Commonwealth Election Commission is preparing for the big day. Kayla Igitol is the CEC executive director.

"Candidate pamphlets are actually ready for any interested candidates seeking public office. They can stop by your office and pick up the package or will try and get it available to them on the website. Hopefully, by the end of the day, it'll be up," she told KUAM News.

Candidates can officially file to enter the race starting July 8. August 7 is the last day to submit nominating petitions and candidacy. This year all eyes are on the delegate seat after 8-term Congressman Gregorio Sablan announced he’s not seeking re-election. Three Senate seats and all House seats are also up.

Meanwhile, the CEC says there are 17,797 registered voters as of yesterday.

Igitol added, 'Registration is actually ongoing. Any voter that ran into some issues last election regarding their name or the date of birth being incorrect, we advise them to come in and update that information. Also, change in name for our voters that married or divorced. I also encourage our registered voters who have relocated to different precincts to come in and make those changes and update registration."

Requests for absentee ballots begin on August 22nd. The last day for voter registration for the election is September 6. The CEC also anticipates a new wave of voters.

She said, "Especially with the seniors that are graduating and turning 18 before or on election day able to come in and register as well. So we're going to see a big change in the number, increase hopefully. And then of course I do anticipate voter participation to increase as well for the midterm. Well you know that's what I would like to see."

Meanwhile, she wrote to Governor Arnold Palacios this week informing him of four vacant commissioner seats, 3 on Saipan and 1 on Tinian, out of the 9 member body. For the commission to have a quorum, five members must be present with at least one member from each senatorial district.