Limitations on Off-Island Voting in Yap (2026)

Background

In April and May 2026, the Yap State Election Office and the Yap State Office of the Attorney General issued a series of announcements and legal opinions affecting overseas voter registration and special polling places for Yap State elections.

The actions were taken ahead of the November 3, 2026 Yap State General Election and focused on limiting overseas voting operations and clarifying who could legally register to vote while living outside Yap State. Yap State elections are administered by the Yap State government itself, in contrast to national elections for the Federated States of Micronesia, which are administered by the national government.

Attorney General Memorandum

On April 14, 2026, Assistant Attorney General Antonio Barinisavu issued Memorandum File Ref. LOS/26 to Yap State Election Commissioner Benedict Rikin. The memorandum addressed whether Yapese citizens residing outside Yap State could register to vote outside the state.

Barinisavu concluded that Yap State law did not authorize overseas voter registration except for students temporarily living outside Yap for educational purposes. The legal opinion relied on the legislative history of Bill No. 2-125 and Standing Committee Report No. 2-137 of the 2nd Yap Legislature, which the memorandum stated reflected legislative intent to prohibit voter registration outside Yap State.

The memorandum cited Title 7 of the Yap State Code and noted that students were the only expressly recognized exception. According to the opinion, Yapese citizens living abroad who were not students would instead be required to register within Yap State and vote through absentee ballot procedures. The later public statement by the Election Office stated that the interpretation had also been reviewed and supported by current Yap State Attorney General Viliame Tuinadi Lagonilakeba.

Closure of Special Polling Places

On May 5, 2026, Election Commissioner Benedict Rikin sent a letter to Francis Itimai announcing that most special polling places outside Yap State would be closed during the upcoming November 3, 2026 general election.

Rikin stated that only the special polling place in Guam would remain open. Polling sites previously operated in Republic of Palau, Saipan, Pohnpei, and Honolulu would be closed. The letter stated that turnout at those locations during the 2018 and 2022 Yap State General Elections had failed to meet the threshold established under Section 701(c)(1) of the Yap State Code and that the low participation no longer justified the cost of conducting elections in those areas.

The letter also stated that absentee voting by airmail remained available and that previously appointed Election Board Members outside Yap State, including Mr. Sam Illegusam and Ms. Natalia Gisog, were being relieved of their duties unless later reappointed. Copies of the letter were sent to officials including the Speaker of the 11th Yap Legislature, the Chief Justice of the Yap State Courts, the Council of Pilung, the Council of Tamol, department heads, and the FSM Congressional Delegation Office.

Election Office Statement

The Yap State Election Office later issued a public Facebook statement defending the interpretation. The post stated that administration Bill No. 2-125 had originally been requested during the administration of former Governor Thomas Gilwuyoch Tun and had eventually become Yap State Law 2-81 after repeated drafting by the Yap Legislature.

The statement further asserted that both the committee report and review by the current Attorney General supported the conclusion that no one besides full-time students residing outside Yap State could legally register outside the state.

Context & Significance of Off-Island Votes

Voter participation in Yap elections and referendums has varied substantially depending on the office, issue, and competitiveness of the contest. Competitive gubernatorial elections produced some of the highest participation totals in the available data, including 4,296 votes in 2018 and 3,697 votes in 2022, while the less competitive 2014 governor’s race drew only 1,266 on-island votes in the compiled turnout data. Congressional races often drew lower participation, particularly when long-serving incumbents such as Joseph J. Urusemal and Isaac V. Figir ran unopposed or faced limited opposition.

Off-island voting has at times represented a significant share of the electorate: separate election figures indicate that off-island ballots accounted for approximately 11.45% of all votes cast in the 2014 gubernatorial election. By contrast, off-island ballots represented approximately 3.5% of votes in a 2018 special election limited to Yap Proper municipalities, rather than a full statewide election. The available figures suggest that off-island voters tend to make up a larger share of the electorate during broader statewide and more competitive elections.