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2023 Marshallese general election

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2023 Marshallese general election

← 2019 20 November 2023 2027 →

All 33 seats in the Nitijeļā
  First party
 
Party Independents
Seats won 33

Speaker
before election

Kenneth Kedi

Elected
Speaker

Brenson Wase

General elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 20 November 2023, alongside a constitutional referendum.[1][2]

Electoral system

[edit]

The 33 members of the Nitijeļā are elected in 19 single-member constituencies via first-past-the-post voting and five multi-member constituencies of between two and five seats via plurality block voting. The President is indirectly elected by the Nitijeļā from among its members.[3]

Results

[edit]

Complete vote tabulation did not begin until 5 December, due to Marshallese law permitting postal ballots postmarked prior to the election to arrive and be counted up to 14 days after election day. On 27 November, preliminary results not including postal ballots indicated substantial turnover in the Nitijeļā with as many as one third of parliamentary seats turning over to new members, including that of speaker Kenneth Kedi.[4]

On 12 December, the RMI Election Administration issued "final unofficial" results, beginning a 14-day period in which the results can be challenged before being declared "final official".[5] Official results were confirmed on 27 December.[6] Incumbent candidates were defeated in 13 of the 33 seats in the Nitijeļā, confirming the loss of speaker Kedi as well as those of Vice Speaker Peterson Jibas and government ministers John Silk and Casten Nemra. Four women were elected, the most ever.[5]

Majuro candidate Yolanda Lodge-Ned filed a recount petition regarding her loss to Stephen Phillip. Lodge-Ned's petition was rejected by Chief Electoral Officer Ben Kiluwe, Kiluwe arguing that the 17-vote loss was a "wide margin".[6]

Constituency Candidate Notes
Ailinglaplap (2) Bruce Loeak 448 Elected
Issac Zackhras 412 Elected
Alfred Alfred, Jr 381 Unseated
Rendy Johnny 258
Nuia Loeak 248
Meuton Laiden 210
Francis Horiuchi 79
Bandrik Langidrik 38
Harold Sam 32
Robert Ysawa 11
Ailuk (1) David Kona Anitok 219 Elected
Bori Ysawa 125
Ankit Typhoon 43
Arno (2) Mike Halferty 671 Re-elected
Gerald Zackios 374 Elected
Stevenson Kotton 274
Hinton Johnson 253
Jejwardrick Anton 247
Arthur Jetton 196
Cecelia Takiah Heine 92
Aur (1) Hilda Heine 561 Re-elected
Justin Lani 340
Ebon (1) Marie Milne 381 Elected
John Silk 369 Unseated
Enewetak (1) Jack Ading 244 Re-elected
Janifer Alfred 70
Maika Leviticus 39
Jabat (1) Kessai Note 165 Re-elected
Whitney Loeak 120
Jaluit (2) Daisy Alik-Momotaro 382 Elected
Bilimon Sonny Baikidri Milne 354 Elected
Jemi Nashion 287 Unseated
Casten Nemra 260 Unseated
Joe Lomae 158
Allison Nashion 136
Jerry Nathan 76
Jendrikdrik Paul 60
Jefferson Barton 45
Kili/Bikini/Ejit (1) Jess Gasper, Jr 420 Elected
Peterson Jibas 305 Unseated
Eldon Note 129
Glann Lewis 56
Kwajalein (3) David Paul 878 Re-elected
Kili Kabua 784 Elected
Kitlang Kabua 729 Re-elected
Lanny Laninaur Kabua 566
Noda Lojkar 273
Abacca Anjain Maddison 270
Junios Malolo Marok 160
Christina Kibin Piamon 46
Lae (1) Thomas Heine 171 Re-elected
Morean Watak 94
Lib (1) Joe Bejang 428 Re-elected
Stanley Bejang 15
Likiep (1) Wallace Peter 121 Elected
Thomas Kijiner, Jr 121
Christopher Debrum 114
James Capelle 110
Frederick Jitto Debrum 51
John Kunar Bungitak 25
Majuro (5) Kalani Kaneko 1,878 Re-elected
Tony Muller 1,539 Re-elected
Brenson Wase 1,340 Re-elected
David Kramer 1,276 Elected
Stephen Phillip 1,232 Re-elected
Yolanda Laninbit Lodge-Ned 1,215
Patrick Langrine 891
Yoland Jurelang 886
William Ring 776
Mailynn Langinlur Konelios 701
Rebecca Lorennij 535
Isaiah Alee 506
Phillip Muller 480
Austen Jurelang 402
Wilbur Allen 316
Antari Elbon 266
Evelyn Lanki 262
Jason Muller Batol 155
Joseph Rilang 111
Russell Kun 96
Grinalee Mizutani 82
Fugen James Wang 66
Lawrence Muller 63
Yoster John 62
Lee L. Laijo 50
Abner Abo 47
Yoseph David 45
Maloelap (1) Bruce Bilimon 320 Re-elected
Salome Andrike Lessep 297
Cathy Saito Lin 236
Christine Capelle Antakbon 8
Jimmy Jacob 0
Mejit (1) Dennis Momotaro 176 Re-elected
Helkena Anni 157
Ronald Matthew, Jr 12
Mattur Muller 7
Mili (1) Wilbur Heine 392 Re-elected
Elizabeth Lometo Nott 280
Namdrik (1) Wisely Zackras 294 Re-elected
Joe Joran Ned 181
Namu (1) Tony Aiseia 517 Re-elected
Ace Doulatram 457
Jaclyn Lemari Solomon 22
Rongelap (1) Hilton Tonton Kendall 320 Elected
Kenneth Kedi 235 Unseated
Robert Anjain 77
Jusie Atdrik Schmidt 26
Ujae (1) Bremity Lakjohn 125 Elected
Atbi Riklon 97 Unseated
Waylon Muller 97
Carlson Heine 68
Bonnan Enos 3
Utrok (1) Hiroshi Yamamura 341 Re-elected
Robin Kios 121
Wotho (1) David Kabua Re-elected unopposed
Wotje (1) Ota Kisino 321 Re-elected
Harris Kaiko 145
Que Keju 80
Alson Morris 4
Source: RMI Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs

Aftermath

[edit]
President Hilda Heine
Outgoing president David Kabua

While elections in the Marshall Islands are officially nonpartisan, most members of the Nitijeļā are part of unofficial groupings. The group supporting the government of President David Kabua suffered losses including several cabinet members, while the group supporting former President Hilda Heine increased its numbers. The new Nitijeļā convened on 2 January 2024 to elect the President, Speaker, and Vice Speaker.[5] Brenson Wase was elected Speaker and Issac Zackhras was elected Vice Speaker.[7]

Presidential election

[edit]

Incumbent president David Kabua lost to the Opposition candidate and former President Hilda Heine by one vote. Voting took place by secret ballot.[7]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Hilda HeineOpposition1751.52
David KabuaGovernment1648.48
Total33100.00
Valid votes33100.00
Invalid/blank votes00.00
Total votes33100.00
Registered voters/turnout33100.00
Source: RNZ[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Pacific news in brief for September 19". RNZ. 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  2. ^ RMI Electoral Administration
  3. ^ Electoral system IPU
  4. ^ Johnson, Giff (27 November 2023). "Marshalls election shows big shakeup in parliament". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Johnson, Giff (15 December 2023). "Marshall Islands election puts opposition in driver's seat". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b Johnson, Giff (30 December 2023). "Marshall Islands election results declared as high-profile incumbents lose re-election". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Hilda Heine sworn in as President of the Marshall Islands". Radio New Zealand. 3 January 2024. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.