Parliamentary Election, 4 March 2025

On 4 March 2025, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) held a general election to fill 10 of the 14 seats in its unicameral Congress for two-year terms. Micronesia employs a single-member district, first‑past‑the‑post system for these seats (IFES 2025). The remaining four seats not up for election this cycle are held by at-large senators, one per state (being Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae), who serve four-year terms (IFES 2025). The country operates without political parties; all candidates contest as independents (IFES 2025). 

The election was managed by the FSM National Election Commission (FSMEC), whose responsibilities include overseeing voter registration, candidate nomination, absentee voting and ballot distribution (FSM NEC n.d.a FSM Law.org n.d.). 

There were several special voting arrangements (SVA) including absentee voting by mail, the option to vote at another polling place (with a request submitted at least seven days before election day), and out-of-country special voting at locations in Guam and Honolulu (FSM NEC n.d.c). Free renewal of Voter ID cards was also available via national offices and consulates (Honolulu and Guam) (FSM NEC n.d.b). New registrants, those turning 18 before the election, were able to register at both national and state election offices (FSM NEC n.,d.b).

Although not part of the national contest, concurrent state elections in Chuuk (one of the four states in the FSM), also on 4 March, were disrupted by a dispute over the legitimacy of the State Election Commission. Conflicting court orders led to a re-vote, following which the incumbent governor rejected the results (Civicus 2025). He subsequently declared a state of emergency, deployed a special police force and increased security measures. The situation escalated during the Chuuk swearing‑in ceremony on 15 April, when police attempted warrantless arrests in the legislature, resulting in a physical confrontation.

Micronesia’s congress does not have a gender quota. Nevertheless, the country  elected its first female MP in a 2021 by-election and its second in 2023, attributed to deliberate initiatives to enhance women’s participation at the national level (UN ESCAP/UN Women 2024: 120). Progress has been maintained with three female MPs elected in 2025 (21.4 per cent of the Congress) (IFES 2025).

There were no reports of state‑orchestrated media interference during the 2025 election. However, the media landscape remains structurally constrained, with internet access largely limited to urban centres and only one independent outlet, Kaselehlie Press, operating with a single reporter (ABC 2025). 

Voter turnout was low at 28.67 per cent, down from 33.1 per cent in 2017 and 44.68 per cent in 2013 (International IDEA n.d.).

Innovations

This election followed significant constitutional reforms approved in July 2023, including provisions for dual citizenship, adjustments to the presidential veto override process, and revised candidacy requirements (IFES 2025). The veto reform strengthened the executive by raising the legislative threshold for overriding a presidential veto, requiring separate supermajority approvals from both district and at-large senators (Fredrick 2023). Candidacy rules were also tightened, restricting eligibility for Congress to citizens by birth, aligning qualifications for legislative and executive offices (Fredrick 2023).