2017 Micronesian parliamentary election explained

Election Name:2017 Micronesian parliamentary election
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Election Date:7 March 2017
Country:Federated States of Micronesia
Previous Year:2015
Previous Election:2015 Micronesian parliamentary election
Next Year:2019
Next Election:2019 Micronesian parliamentary election
Seats For Election:10 out of 14 seats in Congress

Parliamentary elections were held in the Federated States of Micronesia on 7 March 2017,[1] alongside a referendum on allowing dual citizenship. Although the proposed constitutional amendment to allow dual citizenship was approved by a majority of voters, it did not pass the threshold of 75% voting in favour in at least three of the four states.[2]

Electoral system

The 14 members of Congress are elected by two methods; ten are elected in single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting for two year terms. The four at-large Senators are elected on the basis of one from each state,[3] for four year terms

Following the elections, the President and Vice-President are elected by the Congress, with only the four at-large Senators allowed to be candidates.[3]

Results

Congress

StateDistrictCandidateVotes%Notes
ChuukElection District 1Florencio Singkoro Harper2,359100Elected unopposed
Election District 2Victor Gouland3,79369.08Elected
Tesime Kofot1,69830.92
Election District 3Derensio S. Konman3,95760.76Elected
Bonsiano Fasy Nethon2,55639.24
Election District 4Tiwiter Aritos5,110100Elected unopposed
Election District 5Robson Romolow1,34651.43Elected
Williander D. Jack77229.50
Mathias Kuor49919.07
KosraeElection DistrictPaliknoa K. Welly1,53897.16Elected
Write-in452.84
PohnpeiElection District 1Femy S. Perman3,15660.88Elected
Merlynn Abello-Alfonso2,02839.12
Election District 2Dion G. Neth1,51126.05Elected
Berney Martin1,40124.15
Francisco L. Ioanis1,13219.51
Herman Semes Jr.86514.91
Nixon B. Soram5359.22
Naiten O. Phillip3576.15
Election District 3Esmond Moses2,54876.33Elected
Marstella E. Jack79023.67
YapElection DistrictIsaac V. Figir2,28183.31Elected
Fidelis Thiyer-Fanoway45716.69
Source: CFSM

Referendum

The constitutional amendment to allow dual citizenship was passed in all four states, but only by more than 75% of voters in Kosrae.[2]

StateForAgainst
Votes%Votes%
Chuuk12,7356139
Kosrae2,6948515
Pohnpei14,34470.2129.79
Yap1,5635248
Total31,336
align=left colspan=5Source: Kaselehile Press, Direct Democracy

Notes and References

  1. http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/2999/ Federated States Of Micronesia
  2. http://www.kpress.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=557:fsm-voters-go-to-the-polls-dual-citizenship-again-fails-to-pass-voter-scrutiny&catid=8&Itemid=103 FSM voters go to the polls—Dual Citizenship again fails to pass voter scrutiny
  3. http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2213_B.htm Electoral system