General elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 20 November 2023.RMI Electoral Administration
Electoral system 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 elected by the Nitijeļā from among its members.Electoral system IPU
Results 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.
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". Official results were confirmed on 27 December. 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.
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".
Constituency Candidate NotesAilinglaplap (2)Bruce Loeak448ElectedIssac Zackhras412ElectedAlfred Alfred, Jr381UnseatedRendy Johnny258Nuia Loeak248Meuton Laiden210Francis Horiuchi79Bandrik Langidrik38Harold Sam32Robert Ysawa11Ailuk (1)David Kona Anitok219ElectedBori Ysawa125Ankit Typhoon43Arno (2)Mike Halferty671Re-electedGerald Zackios374ElectedStevenson Kotton274Hinton Johnson253Jejwardrick Anton247Arthur Jetton196Cecelia Takiah Heine92Aur (1)Hilda Heine561Re-electedJustin Lani340Ebon (1)Marie D. Milne381ElectedJohn Silk369UnseatedEnewetak (1)Jack Ading244Re-electedJanifer Alfred70Maika Leviticus39Jabat (1)Kessai Note165Re-electedWhitney Loeak120Jaluit (2)Daisy Alik-Momotaro382ElectedBilimon Sonny Baikidri Milne354ElectedJemi Nashion287UnseatedCasten Nemra260UnseatedJoe Lomae158Allison Nashion136Jerry Nathan76Jendrikdrik Paul60Jefferson Barton45Kili/Bikini/Ejit (1)Jess Gasper, Jr420ElectedPeterson Jibas305UnseatedEldon Note129Glann Lewis56Kwajalein (3)David Paul878Re-electedKili Kabua784ElectedKitlang Kabua729Re-electedLanny Laninaur Kabua566Noda Lojkar273Abacca Anjain Maddison270Junios Malolo Marok160Christina Kibin Piamon46Lae (1)Thomas Heine171Re-electedMorean Watak94Lib (1)Joe Bejang428Re-electedStanley Bejang15Likiep (1)Wallace Peter121ElectedThomas Kijiner, Jr121Christopher Debrum114James Capelle110Frederick Jitto Debrum51John Kunar Bungitak25Majuro (5)Kalani Kaneko1,878Re-electedTony Muller1,539Re-electedBrenson Wase1,340Re-electedDavid Kramer1,276ElectedStephen Phillip1,232Re-electedYolanda Laninbit Lodge-Ned1,215Patrick Langrine891Yoland Jurelang886William Ring776Mailynn Langinlur Konelios701Rebecca Lorennij535Isaiah Alee506Phillip Muller480Austen Jurelang402Wilbur Allen316Antari Elbon266Evelyn Lanki262Jason Muller Batol155Joseph Rilang111Russell Kun96Grinalee Mizutani82Fugen James Wang66Lawrence Muller63Yoster John62Lee L. Laijo50Abner Abo47Yoseph David45Maloelap (1)Bruce Bilimon320Re-electedSalome Andrike Lessep297Cathy Saito Lin236Christine Capelle Antakbon8Jimmy Jacob0Mejit (1)Dennis Momotaro176Re-electedHelkena Anni157Ronald Matthew, Jr12Mattur Muller7Mili (1)Wilbur Heine392Re-electedElizabeth Lometo Nott280Namdrik (1)Wisely Zackras294Re-electedJoe Joran Ned181Namu (1)Tony Aiseia517Re-electedAce Doulatram457Jaclyn Lemari Solomon22Rongelap (1)Hilton Tonton Kendall320ElectedKenneth Kedi235UnseatedRobert Anjain77Jusie Atdrik Schmidt26Ujae (1)Bremity Lakjohn125ElectedAtbi Riklon97UnseatedWaylon Muller97Carlson Heine68Bonnan Enos3Utrok (1)Hiroshi V. Yamamura341Re-electedRobin Kios121 Wotho (1)David Kabua–Re-elected unopposedWotje (1)Ota Kisino321Re-electedHarris Kaiko145Que Keju80Alson Morris4Source: RMI Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs
Aftermath
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. Brenson Wase was elected Speaker and Issac Zackhras was elected Vice Speaker.
Presidential election Incumbent president David Kabua lost to the Opposition candidate and former President Hilda Heine by one vote. Voting took place by secret ballot.
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