Chief Election Officer Tuaolo Vaivao Manaia Fruean issued yesterday a letter to the electors of American Samoa, announcing that local absentee voting shall be at the Election Office in Tafuna beginning tomorrow, Sept. 10, from 8 a.m. through Monday, November 3, 2014 at 4 p.m.

The Election Office will also be open on Saturdays from 8 a.m.- 12 noon for local absentee voting.

Under local laws, qualified electors who reside in American Samoa but who will be temporarily absent from the territory on Election day, may vote by absentee ballot at the Election Office. Only those traveling for medical treatment, military-related assignments, employment-related training, conference or assignments, and vacation, may vote locally by absentee ballot before they travel, between now and the day before Election Day.

Pursuant to the American Samoa Administrative Code, the aforementioned travelers who wish to vote must present proof of their temporary absence from American Samoa. Such proof includes, but is not limited to an airline/carrier ticket, military orders, Travel Authorization (TA) or medical referral.

“Please be informed that those travelers who will return to American Samoa BEFORE November 4, 2014 are NOT eligible to vote by local absentee ballot,” Tuaolo wrote.