Pacific / Marshall Islands

Marshall Islands bills would restrict off-shore voting

19:23 pm on 14 March 2016

The Capitol Building in Majuro, the capitol of Marshall Islands Photo: RNZI

Two pieces of legislation in the Marshall Islands would, if passed, amend the law to eliminate voting by postal ballots for people who live offshore.

With an estimated 30 percent of Marshall Islanders now living in the United States, the offshore votes would determine the outcome of a number of parliament and mayoral contests recently.

The new bill focuses on restructuring the law so that postal ballots would be limited to use for residents who will be off-island during the election or a resident who is confined to hospital or home by sickness.