8 Dec 2011

Postal ballots up-end three candidates in Marshall Islands elections

10:48 am on 8 December 2011

Postal ballots have upended three high-profile candidates in the Marshall Islands

Postal ballots from voters living in the US have been counted from the general election that was held on November 21.

Incumbents Amenta Matthew, the current health minister, and Gerald Zackios, a three-term incumbent and former foreign minister, would have won reelection based on the domestic vote, but have now lost.

A third race has resulted in a tie from the votes cast by Marshall Islanders living in the US.

The results do not appear to give a solid majority to either incumbent President Jurelang Zedkaia or the opposition.

The Electoral Administration expects to issue the final unofficial results by Friday.