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General elections were held inPalau on 1 November 2016 to elect aPresident and theNational Congress.[1] IncumbentPresidentTommy Remengesau was challenged by his brother-in-law,Surangel Whipps Jr. for the presidency,[2] emerging as the top two in the primary elections on 27 September.[2] Remengesau was subsequently re-elected with 51% of the vote.[3]
The President and Vice President were elected using thetwo-round system.[4] The 16 members of theHouse of Delegates were elected in single-member constituencies based on thestates usingfirst-past-the-post voting.[5] The 13 members of theSenate were elected from a single nationwide constituency byblock voting, with each voter having 13 votes to cast.[6] The number of senators elected to thePalau National Congress was planned to be reduced to 11 from the previous 13 for the 2016 general election, but this decision was reversed.[7]
Four candidates had declared their intention to seek the presidency in 2016, including Remengesau, who was seeking re-election.
The deadline to file nominating petitions for a presidential run was 3 August.[9]
President Tommy Remengesau declared his candidacy for re-election on 1 March at a campaign kick-off held at theNgarachamayong Cultural Center.[10] Senator Surangel Whipps Jr., who began campaigning for president in 2015 and announced his candidacy earlier in the year, became the first candidate to file his candidacy with the Palau Elections Commission Office on 20 July 2016.[9][11] Sandra Pierantozzi, the former vice president under Remengesau, was the only woman to enter the race.[8]
A presidential debate with all four candidates was held on 17 August 2016, at thePalau Community College (PCC). The debate was jointly sponsored by the Palau Media Council and the Palau Community College.[12]
The presidential primaries were held on 27 September, with Remengesau and Whipps Jr. finishing as the top two to advance to the general election on 1 November.[2] Following their losses in the primaries,Sandra Pierantozzi andAntonio Bells both endorsed Whipps Jr.[13]
Early results released on 2 November initially showed Whipps leading with 1,832 votes, with incumbent President Remengesau trailing with 1,667 votes.[7] However, by 4 November, Remengesau had regained a slim lead with 4,108 votes, while Whipps trailed by just 78 votes, or 4,030 votes.[14] The election was decided by the absentee ballots,[14] which the Palau Election Commission said would be counted after 8 November.[14] Elenita Bennie Brel, the administrator of the national Election Service, announced that final results for the presidential would not be known until later in November, since absentee and provisional ballots would be sorted and counted in the presence of representatives of both presidential campaigns.[14] Bennie Brel explained, "We want to make this election very fair and transparent for everyone who has concern and wants to come in. So after November 8 the counting of the absentee ballots and then it takes another 15 days for the board [of the electoral commission] to certify them." On 10 November it was announced that Remengesau had been re-elected.[15]
| Candidate | Primary | General | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Tommy Remengesau | 4,949 | 50.41 | 5,129 | 51.32 |
| Surangel Whipps Jr. | 3,762 | 38.32 | 4,865 | 48.68 |
| Sandra Pierantozzi | 833 | 8.48 | ||
| Antonio Bells | 274 | 2.79 | ||
| Total | 9,818 | 100.00 | 9,994 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 15,890 | – | ||
| Source:President of Palau,Palau Embassy | ||||
| Candidate | Primary | General | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Raynold Oilouch | 4,553 | 46.70 | 5,222 | 52.92 |
| Yositaka Adachi | 3,001 | 30.78 | 4,646 | 47.08 |
| Mlib Tmetuchl | 2,195 | 22.52 | ||
| Total | 9,749 | 100.00 | 9,868 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 15,890 | – | ||
| Source:President of Palau,Palau Embassy | ||||
| Candidate | Votes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Kuartei | 7,050 | Elected |
| Frank Kyota | 6,561 | Elected |
| Mason Whipps | 6,409 | Elected |
| Aric Nakamura | 6,337 | Elected |
| Mark Rudimch | 5,805 | Elected |
| Hokkons Baules | 5,200 | Elected |
| Phillip Reklai | 5,168 | Elected |
| Uduch Sengebau Senior | 4,997 | Elected |
| Elias Camsek Chin | 4,744 | Elected |
| Rukebai Inabo | 4,680 | Elected |
| Regis Akitaya | 4,647 | Elected |
| Kerai Mariur | 4,533 | Elected |
| John B. Skebong | 4,450 | Elected |
| Alan T. Marbou | 4,285 | |
| Faustina K. Rehuher-Marugg | 3,917 | |
| Alan R. Seid | 3,749 | |
| Steven Kanai | 3,643 | |
| Seit Andres | 3,343 | |
| Satoru W. Adachi | 3,277 | |
| Santy Asanuma | 3,237 | |
| Surech Bells Hideyos | 2,480 | |
| Joan Risong Tarkong | 2,469 | |
| Rebecca Sebalt Ngirmechaet | 2,364 | |
| Gregorio Ngirmang | 2,185 | |
| Source:Palau Embassy | ||
| State | Candidate | Votes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aimeliik | Marino O. Ngemaes | 472 | Elected unopposed |
| Airai | Vicky Kanai | 604 | Elected unopposed |
| Angaur | Mario S. Gulibert | 173 | Elected unopposed |
| Hatohobei | Sebastian R. Marino | 65 | Elected |
| Wayne Andrew | 55 | ||
| Kayangel | Noah Kemesong | 230 | Elected unopposed |
| Koror | Mengkur W. Rechelulk | 1,284 | Elected |
| Alexander Merep | 1,104 | ||
| Melekeok | Lentcer Basilius | 301 | Elected |
| Kevin Mesebeluu | 161 | ||
| Ngaraard | Gibson Kanai | 498 | Elected |
| Dwight G. Alexander | 230 | ||
| Ngarchelong | Dilmai Saiske | 316 | Elected |
| Lily Ulitech | 203 | ||
| Masao Salvador | 156 | ||
| Ngardmau | Lucio Ngiraiwet | 143 | Elected |
| Fermin R. Meriang | 134 | ||
| Ngaremlengui | Swenny Ongidobel | 239 | Elected |
| Portia Klong Franz | 215 | ||
| Ngatpang | Lee T. Otobed | 234 | Elected unopposed |
| Ngchesar | Sabino Anastacio | 292 | Elected unopposed |
| Ngiwal | Masasinge Arurang | 149 | Elected |
| Jeff R. Ngirarsaol | 107 | ||
| Francis Llecholch | 80 | ||
| Eugene Termeteet | 74 | ||
| Krispin Termeteet | 65 | ||
| Peleliu | Jonathan Isechal | 300 | Elected |
| Joseph Mtoched Giramur | 224 | ||
| Sonsorol | Yutaka Gibbons Jr. | 107 | Elected |
| Celestine T. Yangilmau | 68 | ||
| Source:Palau Embassy | |||
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