The Office of the Electoral Commission is currently working on finalizing a list of all eligible Vaimauga No. 3 voters who failed to cast their votes at the recent by-elections for the constituency.
Electoral Commissioner Tuiafelolo Alexander John Stanley told the government media that his office has already obtained a list of constituency residents from the Samoa Bureau of Statistics.
The electoral roll for Vaimauga No. 3 reflects 4781 eligible voters.
And, so far the office has noted 2044 eligible voters who failed to cast their votes at the February 2023 by – elections.
Savali reported the O.E.C. is currently working on finalizing the numbers already removing aside those who have passed away, have not voted for the past 15 years (possibly have left Samoa for good), or have moved or traveled overseas at polling day said the Commissioner.
He explained that those who were overseas at the polling time had a good excuse.
O.E.C. has already obtained a list of those traveling overseas during polling day from the office of Samoa Immigration, said Tuiafelolo.
The by–elections for Vaimauga No.3 materialized after the seat for the constituency was made vacant following the passing of veteran Member of Parliament Tapunu’u Papālii Niko Lee Hang.
According to the commissioner, it is against the law not to vote in Samoa, and failure to do so will see voters facing a fine of $100 under Samoa’s compulsory voting laws.
So once the list is confirmed, voters who did not go to poll at the constituency’s by-election will be contacted by the O.E.C. seeking reasons for their failure to vote.
According to Tuiafelolo, it is best to pay the $100 and clear their names rather than opting for the matter being referred to court, which means their names will also bear this conviction for life.
The by–election for three other constitutions is currently in the pipeline. The commissioner has confirmed with this newspaper if processes go as scheduled, by-elections will happen sometime next month.
But again, urged eligible voting members of these constituencies to go to poll day and cast their votes.
And failure to do so will mean similar actions currently being carried out with Vaimauga No.3 will also be executed for Siumu, Va’a o Fonotī, and Faleata No. 4 after the elections.
Also, all eligible who have never registered to vote when they came to age 21 will be fined $2,000.
SOURCE: GOVERNMENT MEDIA
