Samoa’s Electoral Commissioner Tuiafelolo Alexander John Stanley has confirmed that from 117,225 Samoan’s eligible to cast their votes at the 2026 General Elections only 40,000 people have fully registered.
And according to the commission’s records as of 28 January 2025, that means 77,225 have yet to register.
In the General Elections of 2021 a total of 127,983 were registered on electoral rolls from 51 constituencies across the country.
However, the Electoral Commission has been carrying out registrations/re-registrations for all eligible citizens compared to the numbers provided by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS) in their census.
These are from; names of those living, and those who will be 21 by the time of the General Election in the coming year, which has reduced that total number to 10,758 compared to the 2021 GE electoral roll said Tuiafelolo.
This means that the names of those who have passed away especially those who have moved overseas to live have been removed.
Tuiafelolo in an interview with the Savali News revealed that his office have completed the first part of their re-registration works.
These works include teams of his staff visiting villages and homes to ensure ease of cooperation and registrations of citizens without the hassle of spending any money for their travel to register.
The main office was also open throughout the week with the expectation citizens 21 years and older will come and register/re-register however, Tuiafelolo says people were not prioritising that.
Those re-registration works started in April 08 to November 2024.
According to Tuiafelolo the second part of the registration program to the communities is being prepared to happen at the end of this month up until July 2025.
That will also be the last time the staff will be visiting villages to carry out registrations for citizens eligible to vote.
The main office at Mulinu’u however will continue to open until September 2025 to ensure that everyone gets the chance to register.
PREDICAMENT
According to the Commissioner his office is facing a predicament in registrations because citizens eligible to vote are not putting emphasis on the importance of registering and voting, while some who have come through to register, have not provided all their required documentations for the task.
The requirements are below:
- Birth Certificate and Identification Card (Driver’s License, Work ID, NPF ID or Pension ID)
- or Passport or Proof of Citizenship
- Matai Certificate if you wish to register under the village you are a matai at
- Photo and finger prints (10 fingers)
Tuiafelolo is urging all citizens eligible to vote to go register, reminding it is clear under the law that the penalty for those who do not register is $2,000 tala.
Consultations are currently underway to villages across Upolu and Savaii for the amendments to the constitution, the Electoral Commission says this is an opportunity for those who have yet to register to do so with their teams when they come through their villages.
Tuiafelolo stressed the importance of registering so as to be eligible to vote for one’s pick of an honest and suitable leader to represent citizens in Parliament where decisions are made to determine a bright future for the country.
This article was originally published by Savali Newspaper on its FB page and has been republished with permission.
