§ 6303. Representatives
TITLE 1: GOVERNMENT DIVISION 6: ELECTIONS § 6303. Representatives. A candidate for the House of Representatives shall be qualified to vote in the Commonwealth, at least twenty-one years of age, a resident and a domiciliary of the Commonwealth for at least three years immediately preceding the date on which a representative would take office. A candidate for the House of Repre- sentatives shall be a registered voter and a resident of the election precinct where he or she is a candidate. No person convicted of a felony in the Commonwealth or in any area under the jurisdiction of the United States may be eligible for this office unless a full pardon has been granted. Source: PL 12-18, § 2 (6303); PL 14-87, § 2(b), modified. Commission Comment: PL 14-87 was enacted on September 19, 2005, and contained, in addition to an amendment to 1 CMC § 6004, findings and intent, applicability, and severability provisions. According to PL 14-87: Section 1. Findings and Intent. The Legislature finds and declares that the republican form of government functions best, and the people of the Commonwealth are therefore best served, when legislators are popularly elected in spirited contests in which the people are free to choose from the widest range of qualified candidates. The Legislature finds that the Election Law of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands imposes upon candidates for the House of Representatives certain qualifying restrictions which are not imposed on senatorial or mayoral candidates. The Legislature intends to remove certain qualifying restrictions which are imposed on candidates for the House of Representatives, and to make the new qualifications apply prospectively as well as apply retro- actively to all persons who filed to have his or her candidacy for the No- vember 5, 2005 general election certified by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Election Commission. The Legislature finds that this Act is necessary and is a proper use of the Legislative power… . Section 3. Applicability. The provisions of this Act shall apply pro- spectively and further apply retroactively to all persons who filed candi- dacy nomination petitions for the November 5, 2005 general election. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the Northern Mariana Islands Election Commission shall have two weeks from the effective date of this Act to reconsider its actions regarding the certification of the candidacies of people to whom this Act applies retro- actively.
Source: CNMI Law Revision Commission