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Election Office makes final preparations for Nov. 6th mid-term

American Samoa Election Office photo
Chief Election Office urges register voters to “exercise your right”
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Chief Election Officer, Dr. Lealofi Uiagalelei has designated more than 30 polling stations in American Samoa for next week — the Tuesday Nov. 6th mid term elections — in which only 50 requests have been made to the Election Office for off island absentee ballots.

And Uiagalelei is urging all registered electors to “exercise your right” and go to the polls — which open for 12 hours starting at 6a.m.

This year, electors will cast ballots on the US Delegate and local House of Representatives races as well as the referendum, which seeks to amend the local Constitution, giving the Legislature the authority to override the governor’s vote, instead of the US Secretary of Interior as is stands now.

POLLING STATIONS

The chief election officer is required by law to designate polling stations prior to election day and Uiagalelei released the official list late last week, which shows that most of the polling stations are either church halls or guest houses.

For Manu’a voters residing on Tutuila, the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium has been designated for them to cast ballots.  (See Samoa News edition Oct. 26 for paid advertisement from Election Office for the list of all polling stations.)

ABSENTEE BALLOTS

According to the Election Office, the last day to request AN absentee ballot for registered electors who are serving in the US Armed Forces and students attending colleges off island was Oct. 23.

Uiagalelei says that total number of requests for absentee ballots stands at 50 and as of last week Thursday afternoon, the Election Office have received only 14 mail-in return absentee ballots.

“Right now, we are still checking our mail for more absentee ballot up until election day,” said Uiagalelei.

Election officials plan to work closely with the US Post Office in Fagatogo to ensure that all mail-in absentee ballots are cleared as early as possible on Election Day, after the Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu arrives the night before, Nov. 5.

For local absentee ballots, as of last Thursday afternoon, the total number of local absentee ballots cast stands at 394, said Uiagalelei, adding that this count includes those who are traveling off island and will not be in the territory on election day.

The second category of local absentee voters are electors who are confined in the hospital or at home because of illness, and those employed as an election official on election day.

CANDIDATES WITHDRAW

Last day for a candidate to withdraw from the 2018 midterm election due to illness or health issues was 4:30p.m. last week Friday, Oct. 26.  Uiagalelei said over the weekend that none of the candidates running for public office withdrew from the election.

POLL WORKERS TRAINING

The Election Office also held training last week for its poll workers, covering the East, Central and West, from Oct. 24-26. And the poll workers will be casting their ballots in advance of Election Day, with East poll workers casting their vote on Oct. 31; Central Poll workers on Nov. 1; and West Poll workers on Nov. 2.

REMINDERS

Uiagalelei reminds all eligible voters of Swains Island of the “special meeting” set for 4:30p.m tomorrow, Oct. 30 at the Election Office in Tafuna to select a Swains Island delegate to the local House of Representatives.

For the US Delegate and referendum ballot, Swains Island voters will cast ballots on election day at the Election Office.

The Election Office reminds candidates to submit in advance of election day, a list of their poll watchers, only those on the list will be allowed to be seated as poll watchers

In past elections there have was always issues with last minute changes to names of poll watchers on election day or a poll watcher shows up while his/her name is not on the official list. The Election Office is hoping to address this issue prior Nov. 6.

The Election Office will again work closely with the Office of Samoan Affairs — through village pulenuu and village police — to ensure a smooth and peaceful election in American Samoa.