Senate considers sweeping election reforms, from early voting to campaign spending limits

By Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang KOROR, Palau (Oct. 30, 2026) — “The purpose of the bill is to modernize and streamline the election process,” Sen. Nakamura said as lawmakers considered a broad package of proposed election reforms that would change voting schedules, absentee-ballot procedures, voter registration and campaign rules. The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Affairs held a public hearing Wednesday, Oct. 28, with the Palau Election Commission to discuss Senate Bill No. 12-11, which could expand beyond its original focus on absentee voting to address several aspects of Palau’s election system. Nakamura said the bill passed its first reading on Feb. 4, 2025, and was assigned to the committee. Initially, the measure sought to establish earlier deadlines for sending absentee ballots and require that absentee votes be counted alongside ballots cast in Palau.

The committee is now considering additional provisions based on extensive feedback, including written comments from the election commission, Nakamura said. The proposed changes aim to shorten the wait for absentee ballots, improve election administration and potentially allow complete election results to be announced once ballots cast in Palau and absentee votes have been counted. Earlier deadlines and ballot printing Nakamura said scheduling problems during the last national election highlighted the need to move key election deadlines earlier in the year. “One of the issues I saw during the last national election was timing schedules. So, we will change all the deadlines for submission of nominating petitions because we have to push those so that they take place much earlier during the year,” he said. He also cited a court case that significantly delayed ballot printing during the last election.…