Declaring vacancy in the Yap State Legislature for the third election district, namely Woleai Atoll and requesting the Governor to call for a special election

WHEREAS, John Masiwemai formally resigned from his position as elected Senator from Election District 3 in a letter to the Speaker on November 25, 2024, with his effective date of retirement officially December 31, 2024, which would be a full two years before the expiration of his term; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of Yap, Article V, Section 5 provides that “Any vacancy in the Legislature shall be filled for the unexpired term by special election, except that an unexpired term of less than one year shall be filled by appointment by the Governor.”; and

WHEREAS, Title 7 in the Yap State Code, Section 104(b) further provides “Whenever, one year or more before the end of a term, or after the election but before the elected official has been sworn in, a vacancy occurs in the Legislature, the Governor shall call a special election to fill such vacancy. The call of the Governor shall specify the date of the special election, the deadline for registration of electors for such special election, and the period during which the nomination of candidates for such special election may take place. In all other respects, special elections to fill vacancies in the Legislature shall be held in accordance with the provisions of this title.”; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Eleventh Legislature of the State of Yap, Third Regular Session, 2025, that the Legislature hereby respectfully and officially declares a vacancy in the Yap State Legislature for the third election district, namely Woleai Atoll and requests the Governor to call for a special election; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Chief Justice of the State Court of Yap, the Cabinet members, the Chairman of the Council of Pilung, and the Chairman of the Council of Tamol.