2017 Marshallese Constitutional Convention election
Constitutional Convention elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 21 February 2017. Background. A constitutional convention is used in the Marshall Islands to consider proposed constitutional amendments that have been endorsed by the Legislature. The convention cannot propose new amendments and can only debate those approved by the parliament. Previous conventions had been held in 1977–78, 1989 and 1995. The proposed changes for the 2017 Constitutional Convention included: Electoral system. The 45 members of the Constitutional Convention consisted of 33 directly-elected delegates elected from the 33 Legislature districts, and 12 Iroijs (chiefs ). Postal voting was not allowed. Campaign. A total of 119 candidates contested the 33 directly-elected seats, whilst 24 ran for the 12 seats reserved for the Iroijs. All but seven of the thirty-three members of the Legislature ran for election to the convention. Aftermath. The Constitutional Convention opened in April 2017. Kessai Note was elected as the body's President, defeating Christopher Loeak by a vote of 22–21.