On Monday, the 18th of November, voters in the Marshall Islands went to the polls to elect a new legislature. All 33 seats in the country’s unicameral house were in contention.
Incumbent President Hilda Heine sought to retain her seat in parliament, a key determiner of whether she can contest for a second term.
How the Election Works
- The 33 members of parliament are elected in 19 single-member and five multi-member constituencies. Multi-member constituencies have between two to five seats.
- Marshallese citizens and residents with land rights who are at least 18 years old are eligible to vote.
- Seats are won by a simple majority.
- The President is elected by the parliament from among its members.
Election Result
President Heine, as well as nine of the ministers in the present presidential cabinet, retained their seats. Minister of Culture and Internal Affairs, Amenta Mathews, however, lost her seat. More details of the result can be found here.
US Interest
This Marshall Islands election was of particular interest to the United States as the makeup of the parliament could have an impact on an agreement between the US and the Pacific Island nation.
The Compact of Free Association agreement governs the relationship between the US and the Marshall Islands. It gives the US control of Marshall Island’s security and defence and allows continued use of the Kwajalein Atoll as a U.S. military missile tracking station. In exchange, the country receives financial aid.
The election comes at a time of growing tensions between the US and China. According to reports, a controversial Chinese-backed investment plan in the Rongelap Atoll of the country was the underlying cause of a confidence vote on President Heine’s US-aligned government in 2018.
With China’s interest in expanding its influence in the Pacific region – Kiribati and Solomon Islands have recently switched allegiance from Taiwan to China – Marshall Islands could gain more power during the re-negotiation of the Compact Agreement due to expire in 2023.
