TITLE 1: GOVERNMENT
DIVISION 6: ELECTIONS
§ 6106. Election Commission: Quorum and Attendance. (a) Five (5) members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum to conduct official business; provided, however, that at least one member from each senatorial district is present. All decisions of the Commission shall be made by three-fourths (3/4’s) vote of the members. (b) A member of the Commission may appear, attend, participate, and vote in an official meeting electronically using a telephone, video, or other electronic means provided that the member is physically present in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Source: DL 5-19, § 4, modified; repealed and reenacted by PL 12-18, § 2 (6106); amended by PL 21-33, § 2 (Sept. 22, 2020). Commission Comment: The section dealing with a quorum of members was previously codified as 1 CMC § 6105. In addition to Severability and Savings Clause provisions, PL 21-33 contained the following Findings and Purpose section: Section 1. Findings and Purpose. The Legislature finds that with the continued implementation of the safety measures in response to the global pandemic resulting from COVID-19 that there has been a shift to a new normal of day to day activities. More importantly, the end of this pandemic is still far out of reach as many states and countries are seeing a surge in positive cases. Furthermore, as the COVID-19 has affected the world on a global scale, the loss of the Commonwealth’s tourist industry has detrimentally affected revenue source causing additional hardships on government services and private businesses further impacting the livelihood of our residents in the Commonwealth. The Legislature further finds that with the midterm elections fast approaching, that the Commonwealth Election Commission has been unable to conduct an official meeting within a safe and cost effective setting during these difficult times. It is imperative that alternative measures be considered to allow election commission members physically present in the Commonwealth to fulfill their fiduciary duties when the governor declares the Commonwealth to be under a State of Significant Emergency or a State of Public Health Emergency. Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to allow a member of the Commonwealth Election Commission to appear, participate, and vote in an official meeting using a telephone, video, or other electronic means.