Congressional and state elections have been postponed until Nov. 13 in the U.S. Northern Mariana Islands due to super-typhoon Yutu, which made landfall last week, destroying homes and infrastructure, and leaving parts of the territory without running water and electricity.
“Exercising your right to vote is an important part of our democracy and our freedom,” Commonwealth Governor Ralph Torres (R) said in a Facebook post. “Taking care of yourself and your family is even more important.”
The delayed election date will have no effect on the balance of power in Congress because the islands’ representative is a non-voting delegate. Incumbent Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP, At-Large) is running for re-election this year; his challenger is Angel Demapan (R-MP, At-Large), a member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives.
