1996 Palauan general election

General elections were held in Palau in 1996 to elect a president, vice-president, Senate and House of Delegates. The first round of the presidential election took place on 24 September, whilst the run-off election and the election for the House of Delegates and Senate took place on 5 November. All candidates ran as independents, with 36 candidates contesting the 14 Senate seats and 35 for the 16 House of Delegates seats. Incumbent Kuniwo Nakamura was re-elected President, whilst Thomas Remengesau Jr. was re-elected vice-president. Voter turnout was 77% in the presidential elections on 24 September and 81% on 5 November.

1996 Palauan general election

24 September 1996 (first round) 5 November 1996 (second round)

Presidential election

Candidate Kuniwo Nakamura Yutaka Gibbons Party Independent Independent Popular vote 6,052 3,356 Percentage 64.33% 35.67%

presidential before election Kuniwo Nakamura Independent Elected presidential Kuniwo Nakamura Independent

Vice presidential election

Candidate Thomas Remengesau Jr. Kione Isechal Party Independent Independent Popular vote 6,672 3,038 Percentage 68.71% 31.29%

Vice President before election Thomas Remengesau Jr. Independent Elected Vice President Thomas Remengesau Jr. Independent

Results

President

Toribiong withdrew his candidacy prior to the second round following his poor performance compared to 1992 and the collapse of the Koror-Babeldaob Bridge, which Toribiong stated should receive the government's full attention.

Candidate	First round		Second round
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Kuniwo Nakamura	4,900	52.66	6,052	64.33
Johnson Toribiong	3,092	33.23
Yutaka Gibbons	1,313	14.11	3,356	35.67
Total	9,305	100.00	9,408	100.00
Valid votes	9,305	98.65	9,408	92.94
Invalid/blank votes	127	1.35	715	7.06
Total votes	9,432	100.00	10,123	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	12,249	77.00	12,437	81.39
Source: Nohlen et al.

Vice-President

Candidate	Votes	%
Thomas Remengesau Jr.	6,672	68.71
Kione Isechal	3,038	31.29
Total	9,710	100.00
Valid votes	9,710	95.92
Invalid/blank votes	413	4.08
Total votes	10,123	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	12,437	81.39
Source: Nohlen et al.

Senate

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Independents	9,487	100.00	14	0
Total		9,487	100.00	14	0
Valid votes		9,487	92.80
Invalid/blank votes		736	7.20
Total votes		10,223	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		12,437	82.20
Source: Nohlen et al.

House of Delegates

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Independents	9,655	100.00	16	0
Total		9,655	100.00	16	0
Valid votes		9,655	94.44
Invalid/blank votes		568	5.56
Total votes		10,223	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		12,437	82.20
Source: Nohlen et al.