Palau primary election results in limbo as voting deadline approaches

Today (August 7) ​​is the deadline to submit nomination applications for the positions of president, vice president and Olbiil Era Kelulau, but the question of whether Palau will hold primaries remains unanswered.

If there are three presidential candidates, the commission will hold a primary on September 24. The general election is scheduled for November 5.

The projected third presidential candidate, Moses Uludong, is currently not on the island. As there is still time for other candidates to submit their applications, it will be known by the end of today whether a primary election will be held this year.

The national budget allocates $514,872 to the Palau Election Commission for operations and election conduct, up from approximately $277,000 in 2022 and approximately $331,000 in 2023. This budget increase reflects the higher cost of conducting national elections simultaneously in all 16 states using appropriate and centralized ballot boxes.

Many potential candidates are expected to submit their nomination applications at the last minute. (By Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang)

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