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2023 Marshallese general election#Presidential election

{{Short description|none}}

{{Infobox election

| type = parliamentary

| country = Marshall Islands

| election_date = 20 November 2023

| seats_for_election = All 33 seats in the Nitijeļā

| previous_election = 2019 Marshallese general election

| previous_year = 2019

| next_election =

| next_year = 2027

| party1 = Independents

| seats1 = 33

| title = Speaker

| before_election = Kenneth Kedi

| posttitle = Elected
Speaker

| after_election = Brenson Wase

}}{{Politics of the Marshall Islands}}

General elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 20 November 2023.{{Cite web|date=2023-09-19|title=Pacific news in brief for September 19|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/498301/pacific-news-in-brief-for-september-19|access-date=2023-10-19|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}[https://www.facebook.com/rmielectoral/posts/pfbid0MAS6WtRVPBgdKeY3VBJG5bYw62aK95V6Up2zhDZBpoiLQZEGVktM8AdqgHC75ij3l 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 indirectly elected by the Nitijeļā from among its members.[http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2205_B.htm 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.{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=Giff|title=Marshalls election shows big shakeup in parliament|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/503343/marshalls-election-shows-big-shakeup-in-parliament|website=Radio New Zealand |access-date=2 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128073546/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/503343/marshalls-election-shows-big-shakeup-in-parliament|archive-date=28 November 2023|date=27 November 2023}}

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".{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=Giff|title=Marshall Islands election puts opposition in driver's seat|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/504798/marshall-islands-election-puts-opposition-in-driver-s-seat|website=Radio New Zealand |access-date=16 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215194630/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/504798/marshall-islands-election-puts-opposition-in-driver-s-seat|archive-date=15 December 2023|date=15 December 2023}} Official results were confirmed on 27 December.{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=Giff|title=Marshall Islands election results declared as high-profile incumbents lose re-election|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/505778/marshall-islands-election-results-declared-as-high-profile-incumbents-lose-re-election|publisher=Radio New Zealand |access-date=14 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105121856/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/505778/marshall-islands-election-results-declared-as-high-profile-incumbents-lose-re-election|archive-date=5 January 2024|date=30 December 2023}} 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".

class="wikitable"

! Constituency !! Candidate !! !! Notes

rowspan=10|Ailinglaplap (2)Bruce Loeakalign=right|448Elected
style="font-weight:bold"

|Issac Zackhras

align=right|412Elected
Alfred Alfred, Jralign=right|381Unseated
Rendy Johnnyalign=right|258
Nuia Loeakalign=right|248
Meuton Laidenalign=right|210
Francis Horiuchialign=right|79
Bandrik Langidrikalign=right|38
Harold Samalign=right|32
Robert Ysawaalign=right|11
colspan=4|
rowspan=3|Ailuk (1)David Kona Anitokalign=right|219Elected
Bori Ysawaalign=right|125
Ankit Typhoonalign=right|43
colspan=4|
rowspan=7|Arno (2)Mike Halfertyalign=right|671Re-elected
style="font-weight:bold"

|Gerald Zackios

align=right|374Elected
Stevenson Kottonalign=right|274
Hinton Johnsonalign=right|253
Jejwardrick Antonalign=right|247
Arthur Jettonalign=right|196
Cecelia Takiah Heinealign=right|92
colspan=4|
rowspan=2|Aur (1)Hilda Heinealign=right|561Re-elected
Justin Lanialign=right|340
colspan=4|
rowspan=2|Ebon (1)Marie Milnealign=right|381Elected
John Silkalign=right|369Unseated
colspan=4|
rowspan=3|Enewetak (1)Jack Adingalign=right|244Re-elected
Janifer Alfredalign=right|70
Maika Leviticusalign=right|39
colspan=4|
rowspan=2|Jabat (1)Kessai Notealign=right|165Re-elected
Whitney Loeakalign=right|120
colspan=4|
rowspan=9|Jaluit (2)Daisy Alik-Momotaroalign=right|382Elected
style=font-weight:bold

|Bilimon Sonny Baikidri Milne

align=right|354Elected
Jemi Nashionalign=right|287Unseated
Casten Nemraalign=right|260Unseated
Joe Lomaealign=right|158
Allison Nashionalign=right|136
Jerry Nathanalign=right|76
Jendrikdrik Paulalign=right|60
Jefferson Bartonalign=right|45
colspan=4|
rowspan=4|Kili/Bikini/Ejit (1)Jess Gasper, Jralign=right|420Elected
Peterson Jibasalign=right|305Unseated
Eldon Notealign=right|129
Glann Lewisalign=right|56
colspan=4|
rowspan=8|Kwajalein (3)David Paulalign=right|878Re-elected
style=font-weight:bold

|Kili Kabua

align=right|784Elected
style=font-weight:bold

|Kitlang Kabua

align=right|729Re-elected
Lanny Laninaur Kabuaalign=right|566
Noda Lojkaralign=right|273
Abacca Anjain Maddisonalign=right|270
Junios Malolo Marokalign=right|160
Christina Kibin Piamonalign=right|46
colspan=4|
rowspan=2|Lae (1)Thomas Heinealign=right|171Re-elected
Morean Watakalign=right|94
colspan=4|
rowspan=2|Lib (1)Joe Bejangalign=right|428Re-elected
Stanley Bejangalign=right|15
colspan=4|
rowspan=6|Likiep (1)Wallace Peteralign=right|121Elected
Thomas Kijiner, Jralign=right|121
Christopher Debrumalign=right|114
James Capellealign=right|110
Frederick Jitto Debrumalign=right|51
John Kunar Bungitakalign=right|25
colspan=4|
rowspan=27|Majuro (5)Kalani Kanekoalign=right|1,878Re-elected
style=font-weight:bold

|Tony Muller

align=right|1,539Re-elected
style=font-weight:bold

|Brenson Wase

align=right|1,340Re-elected
style=font-weight:bold

|David Kramer

align=right|1,276Elected
style=font-weight:bold

|Stephen Phillip

align=right|1,232Re-elected
Yolanda Laninbit Lodge-Nedalign=right|1,215
Patrick Langrinealign=right|891
Yoland Jurelangalign=right|886
William Ringalign=right|776
Mailynn Langinlur Koneliosalign=right|701
Rebecca Lorennijalign=right|535
Isaiah Aleealign=right|506
Phillip Mulleralign=right|480
Austen Jurelangalign=right|402
Wilbur Allenalign=right|316
Antari Elbonalign=right|266
Evelyn Lankialign=right|262
Jason Muller Batolalign=right|155
Joseph Rilangalign=right|111
Russell Kunalign=right|96
Grinalee Mizutanialign=right|82
Fugen James Wangalign=right|66
Lawrence Mulleralign=right|63
Yoster Johnalign=right|62
Lee L. Laijoalign=right|50
Abner Aboalign=right|47
Yoseph Davidalign=right|45
colspan=4|
rowspan=5|Maloelap (1)Bruce Bilimonalign=right|320Re-elected
Salome Andrike Lessepalign=right|297
Cathy Saito Linalign=right|236
Christine Capelle Antakbonalign=right|8
Jimmy Jacobalign=right|0
colspan=4|
rowspan=4|Mejit (1)Dennis Momotaroalign=right|176Re-elected
Helkena Annialign=right|157
Ronald Matthew, Jralign=right|12
Mattur Mulleralign=right|7
colspan=4|
rowspan=2|Mili (1)Wilbur Heinealign=right|392Re-elected
Elizabeth Lometo Nottalign=right|280
colspan=4|
rowspan=2|Namdrik (1)Wisely Zackrasalign=right|294Re-elected
Joe Joran Nedalign=right|181
colspan=4|
rowspan=3|Namu (1)Tony Aiseiaalign=right|517Re-elected
Ace Doulatramalign=right|457
Jaclyn Lemari Solomonalign=right|22
colspan=4|
rowspan=4|Rongelap (1)Hilton Tonton Kendallalign=right|320Elected
Kenneth Kedialign=right|235Unseated
Robert Anjainalign=right|77
Jusie Atdrik Schmidtalign=right|26
colspan=4|
rowspan=5|Ujae (1)Bremity Lakjohnalign=right|125Elected
Atbi Riklonalign=right|97Unseated
Waylon Mulleralign=right|97
Carlson Heinealign=right|68
Bonnan Enosalign=right|3
colspan=4|
rowspan=2|Utrok (1)Hiroshi Yamamuraalign=right|341Re-elected
Robin Kiosalign=right|121
colspan=4|
Wotho (1)David Kabuaalign=right|–Re-elected unopposed
colspan=4|
rowspan=4|Wotje (1)Ota Kisinoalign=right|321Re-elected
Harris Kaikoalign=right|145
Que Kejualign=right|80
Alson Morrisalign=right|4
colspan=4|Source: [https://archive.org/details/marshall-islands-2023-general-election-official-results RMI Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs]

Aftermath

File:Hilda Heine 20171030.jpg]]

File:President David Kabua (cropped 2).jpg]]

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.{{cite web|title=Hilda Heine sworn in as President of the Marshall Islands|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/505980/hilda-heine-sworn-in-as-president-of-the-marshall-islands|publisher=Radio New Zealand |access-date=14 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104002558/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/505980/hilda-heine-sworn-in-as-president-of-the-marshall-islands|archive-date=4 January 2024|date=3 January 2024}}

=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.

{{Election results

|cand1 = Hilda Heine

|party1 = Opposition

|votes1 = 17

|cand2 = David Kabua

|party2 = Government

|votes2 = 16

|invalid = 0

|electorate = 33

|source = RNZ

}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Marshall Islands elections}}

Marshall

General election

Category:Elections in the Marshall Islands

Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results

Marshall