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Election office and Vital Statistics to open on Columbus Holiday

To assist voter registration and absentee voters heading off island on Monday's Hawaiian Airline’ flight, Chief Election Officer Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono said the Election Office will open this Monday, Oct. 8, a national holiday — Columbus Day.

“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this year’s election for American Samoa and I again appeal to those who have not yet registered to vote, to do so before the close of voting registration, on Oct. 9, which is next week Tuesday,” said Soliai in a phone interview yesterday.

This year’s voters go to the polls to elect the territory's governor and lieutenant governor, the Delegate and the local House of Representatives and the veto-override referendum.

“Also very important is that all qualified voters, who are residents of American Samoa but absent from the territory on Election Day, Nov. 6 are encouraged to cast their ballots prior to leaving the territory,” he said. “And we have made it convenient for local absentee voters by opening the election office on Monday.”

The Election Office is also open today (Saturday) from 8am to 12noon for voter registration as well as voters who are traveling off island and need to vote absentee ballots.

On Monday, the Election Office will stay open with absentee voting from 8am to 12noon and voter registration from 8am to 4pm.

Soliai urged all voters to go online at www.americansamoaelectionoffice.org to check your voting status — to make sure your name is not purged from the Election Roll for failure to vote in the last two general elections.

And if your name is purged, please go to the Election Office to re-register before 4pm next Tuesday, Oct. 9.

 Soliai reminds voters seeking to transfer to another district that they must provide proof of residency of one year in the new district.

To assist voters in need of a copy of their birth certificate, the Office of Vital Statistic opens today and Monday from 8am to 12noon.

Meanwhile, Gov.  Togiola Tulafono has declared Monday, a government holiday with all ASG offices closed and normal activities suspended on that day.

ASG employees who are required to work that day will be compensated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Because it's a local and national holiday, all federal offices including the US Postal Service will also be closed. The two local banks will be closed as well as the majority of local businesses.

StarKist Samoa will work that day but is scheduled to close during the week of Oct. 15 for general maintenance and repairs.

In observance of Columbus Day, Samoa News will not publish on Monday, but will return on Tuesday. Please check the Samoa News website over the weekend for any news updates.