The Guam Election Commission Reviews Signatures for Bingo Initiative

Over the course of the last month, the Guam Election Commission has verified approximately 1,300 valid signatures of people for legalization of for-profit bingo on petitions.

To become eligible to be on the November 6th general election ballot, the information must be certified by the Guam Election Commission by August 8th.

Guam law indicates that an initiative may not be listed on the ballot if it has not been certified a minimum of 90 days prior to the general election.

Annette Cruz, the supporter who submitted the initiative to the commission, was given until the end of September to turn in the petition; however that would have made it over the 90 day minimum requirement to make it on the ballot.

If this bingo initiative is approved, bingo games would be permitted to operate only at the former Guam Greyhound Park in Tamuning. The "Guam Bingo Fund" would be used to benefit public schools, health care and public safety, and supply funds for the Department of Revenue and Taxation to regulate bingo. Bingo operations would supply the government with 20% of their monthly profits to go into the bingo fund.

After a month of reviewing signatures on 160 petitions, only 1,300 are considered valid.

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