Capitol building, meeting place of the Nitijeļā
2023 Marshallese general election
20 November 2023
All 33 seats in the Nitijeļā
  First party
 
Party Independent
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

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

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 Votes Notes Constituency Candidate Votes Notes
Ailinglaplap (2)Issac Zackhras412ElectedMajuro (5)Isaiah Alee506
Alfred Alfred, Jr381UnseatedJoseph Rilang111
Rendy Johnny258Stephen Phillip1,232Re-elected
Harold Sam32Austen Jurelang402
Meuton Laiden210Yolanda Laninbit Lodge-Ned1215
Nuia Loeak248Mailynn Langinlur Konelios701
Bruce Loeak448ElectedBrenson Wase1,340Re-elected
Robert Ysawa11Antari Elbon266
Bandrik Langidrik38Wilbur Allen316
Francis Horiuchi79William Ring776
Ailuk (1)David Kona Anitok219ElectedAbner Abo47
Bori Ysawa125Kalani Kaneko1,878Re-elected
Ankit Typhoon43Patrick Langrine891
Arno (2)Hinton Johnson253David Kramer1,276Elected
Arthur Jetton196Jason Muller Batol155
Cecelia Takiah Heine92Fugen James Wang66
Jejwardrick Anton247Phillip Muller480
Mike Halferty671Re-electedYoseph David45
Stevenson Kotton274Yoland Jurelang886
Gerald Zackios374ElectedLawrence Muller63
Aur (1)Hilda Heine561Re-electedLee L. Laijo50
Justin Lani340Russell Kun96
Ebon (1)Marie Milne381ElectedYoster John62
John Silk369UnseatedGrinalee Mizutani82
Enewetak (1)Maika Leviticus39Evelyn Lanki262
Janifer Alfred70Rebecca Lorennij535
Jack Ading244Re-electedTony Muller1,539Re-elected
Jabat (1)Kessai Note165Re-electedMaloelap (1)Salome Andrike Lessep297
Whitney Loeak120Cathy Saito Lin236
Jaluit (2)Daisy Alik-Momotaro382ElectedChristine Capelle Antakbon8
Jemi Nashion287UnseatedJimmy Jacob0
Bilimon Sonny Baikidri Milne354ElectedBruce Bilimon320Re-elected
Casten Nemra260UnseatedMejit (1)Mattur Muller7
Jerry Nathan76Ronald Matthew, Jr12
Joe Lomae158Dennis Momotaro176Re-elected
Allison Nashion136Helkena Anni157
Jendrikdrik Paul60Mili (1)Wilbur Heine392Re-elected
Jefferson Barton45Elizabeth Lometo Nott280
Kili/Bikini/Ejit (1)Peterson Jibas305UnseatedNamdrik (1)Wisely Zackras294Re-elected
Jess Gasper, Jr420ElectedJoe Joran Ned181
Glann Lewis56Namu (1)Ace Doulatram457
Eldon Note129Jaclyn Lemari Solomon22
Kwajalein (3)Noda Lojkar273Tony Aiseia517Re-elected
Kili Kabua784ElectedRongelap (1)Kenneth Kedi235Unseated
David Paul878Re-electedRobert Anjain77
Kitlang Kabua729Re-electedJusie Atdrik Schmidt26
Lanny Laninaur Kabua566Hilton Tonton Kendall320Elected
Junios Malolo Marok160Ujae (1)Atbi Riklon97Unseated
Abacca Anjain Maddison270Carlson Heine68
Christina Kibin Piamon46Bremity Lakjohn125Elected
Lae (1)Thomas Heine171Re-electedBonnan Enos3
Morean Watak94Waylon Muller97
Lib (1)Joe Bejang428Re-electedUtrok (1)Robin Kios121
Stanley Bejang15Hiroshi Yamamura341Re-elected
Likiep (1)Wallace Peter121ElectedWotho (1)David Kabua–Re-elected unopposed
Christopher Debrum114Wotje (1)Ota Kisino321Re-elected
Frederick Jitto Debrum51Harris Kaiko145
John Kunar Bungitak25Alson Morris4
James Capelle110Que Keju80
Thomas Kijiner, Jr121
Source: RMI Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs

Aftermath

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

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
Total votes33–
Registered voters/turnout33100.00
Source: [7]

References

  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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 "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.
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