2020 Palauan general election

2020 Palauan general election
← 2016 3 November 2020 2024 →
Presidential election
 
Nominee Surangel Whipps Jr. Raynold Oilouch
Party Independent Independent
Popular vote 5,699 4,351
Percentage 56.71% 43.29%
Vice Presidential election
 
Nominee Uduch Sengebau Senior Frank Kyota
Party Independent Independent
Popular vote 5,112 4,671
Percentage 52.25% 47.75%
President before election

Tommy Remengesau
Independent

President after election

Surangel Whipps Jr.
Independent

Politics of Palau
Constitution
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    Minister: Gustav Aitaro

General elections were held in Palau on 3 November 2020 to elect a President and the National Congress.[1][2]

Electoral system

The President of Palau is elected using the two-round system.[3]

The 13 members of the Senate are elected from a single nationwide constituency by block voting, with each voter having 13 votes to cast.[4] The 16 members of the House of Delegates are elected in single-member constituencies based on the states using first-past-the-post voting.[5]

Results

President

The primary round was held on 22 September 2020 with four candidates.[6][7] The incumbent president, Thomas Remengesau Jr., was ineligible to stand again having reached his term limit.[8] Former presidential candidate (and brother-in-law of the incumbent) Surangel Whipps Jr. took first place in the primary, while Vice President Raynold Oilouch placed second to qualify for the second round of the presidential election.

Following the second round on 3 November, Oilouch conceded defeat to Whipps on 5 November after all the votes from Palau had been counted, giving Whipps a 1,202 vote lead with around 2,000 absentee votes still to be counted.[9] The Palau Election Commission officially certified the final results on 17 November.[10]

CandidatePrimaryGeneral
Votes%Votes%
Surangel Whipps Jr.3,54646.305,69956.71
Raynold Oilouch1,98425.914,35143.29
Johnson Toribiong1,14514.95
Alan R. Seid98312.84
Total7,658100.0010,050100.00
Valid votes7,65898.7610,05098.49
Invalid/blank votes961.241541.51
Total votes7,754100.0010,204100.00
Registered voters/turnout16,42047.2216,75460.90
Source: MBJ, MV, Island Times

Vice president

CandidateVotes%
Uduch Sengebau Senior5,11252.25
Frank Kyota4,67147.75
Total9,783100.00
Valid votes9,78395.87
Invalid/blank votes4214.13
Total votes10,204100.00
Registered voters/turnout16,75460.90
Source: Island Times

Senate

Candidate Votes Notes
Mason Whipps 7,099 Elected
Steven Kuartei 6,965 Elected
Andrew Tabelual 6,696 Elected
Mark Rudimch 5,684 Elected
Rukebai Inabo 5,652 Elected
Hokkons Baules 5,594 Elected
K. Topps Sungino 5,496 Elected
TJ Imrur Remengesau 5,475 Elected
Umiich Sengebau 5,468 Elected
Jonathan Isechal[11] 5,384 Elected
Kerai Mariur 5,278 Elected
Secilil Eldebechel 4,792 Elected
Regis Akitaya[12] 4,715 Elected
Aric Nakamura 4,547
Phillip Reklai 4,184
Salvador Tellames 4,082
Rebluud Kesolei 4,006
Joann Risong Tarkong 3,678
Elias Camsek Chin 3,584
Seit Andres 2,586
Alexander Merep 2,333
John Skebong 2,123
Eugene Termeteet 2,089
Moses Y. Uludong 1,553
Francis Llecholch 1,139
John Mengidab 1,088
Blodak Quichocho 692
Ismael Remoket Muchucheu 333
Source: Psephos

House of Delegates

State Candidate Votes Notes
Aimeliik Warren Umetaro — Elected unopposed
Airai Vicky Kanai — Elected unopposed
Angaur Mario Gulibert 214 Elected
Olkeriil Kazuo 144
Hatohobei Sebastian Marino — Elected unopposed
Kayangel Noah Kemesong 264 Elected
Midas Ngiracheluolu 114
Koror Mengkur W. Rechelulk — Elected unopposed
Melekeok Frutoso Toto Tellei 335 Elected
Lentcer Basilius 311
Ngaraard Gibson Kanai 614 Elected
Jerome Esebei Temengil 231
Ngarchelong Timothy Sinsak 522 Elected
Dilmai Saiske 388
Ngardmau Lucio Ngiraiwet 157 Elected
Fermin Meriang 151
Ngaremlengui Swenny Ongidobel 296 Elected
Portia Franz 227
Ngatpang Lee Otobed 212 Elected
Jersey Iyar 197
Ngchesar Sabino Anastacio 270 Elected
Rebecca Sebalt Ngirmechaet 156
Ngiwal Masasinge Arurang 237 Elected
Ellender Ngirameketii 230
Peleliu Nace Soalablai 284 Elected
Joseph Mtoched Giramur 233
Sonsorol Yutaka Gibbons Jr — Elected unopposed
Source: Psephos

References

  1. ^ "Remengesau to exit Palau political arena after 2020". Pacific Island Times. 28 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Republic of Palau 11th General Election". Palau Election Commission. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  3. ^ Palau IFES
  4. ^ "IPU PARLINE database: PALAU (Senate), Electoral system". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Archived from the original on 2019-08-25. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  5. ^ "IPU PARLINE database: PALAU (House of Delegates), Electoral system". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Archived from the original on 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  6. ^ "Four candidates seek the presidency in Palau elections in 2020". January 19, 2020. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "Palau goes to the polls for primary elections". RNZ. 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  8. ^ "Palauans vote on new political era". RNZ. 2020-11-03. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  9. ^ Carreon, Bernadette (2020-11-05). "Oilouch concedes defeat to Whipps". Island Times. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  10. ^ Carreon, Bernadette (2020-11-20). "Palau Election Commission officially certifies election results". Island Times. Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  11. ^ Died in 2023, succeeded by Lentcer Basilius
  12. ^ Died in 2022, succeeded by Salvador Tellames