Guam Governor Vetoes Bill that Required Candidates to Poll 4% in Primary in Order to Advance to General Election

On March 27, Guam Governor Eddie Calvo, a Republican, vetoed Bill 413, a comprehensive re-write of the election code. One of the provisions that the Governor objects to is one that says no candidate in the primary may advance to the general election ballot unless he or she polls 4% of the primary vote, or 1,500 votes, whichever is less.

Another reason for the veto is that the bill calls for an audit of provisional and absentee ballots from the 2010 gubernatorial election. The Governor says that election is over and such an audit would not be useful.

Democrats have a majority in the legislature, and Democrats supported the 4% primary vote test because they say the provision forces Republicans to vote in their own primary, to guarantee that Republican nominees have enough votes. They say without that provision, Republican-minded people will vote in the Democratic primary and influence the outcome of Democratic choices.


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