The Samoa Electoral Commissioner is determined to ensure all eligible voters get to vote at next year’s general elections without any coercion by candidates and their committees.
Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio says he’s not backing down from taking offenders to court.
“These are our elections, Samoa’s elections. We all have a role to play in ensuring that the integrity of the process that we use to elect our leaders is held at a high regard,” he told media this week.
He said the law would be a last resort as his office works closely with government village representatives and other “key stakeholders” like churches and village councils to ensure everything is above board.
Faimalomatumua said his office will only take legal action as a last resort.
“We always take the consultative approach in addressing them. And we are aware of the fact that we will continue to have issues with this partnership going forward, but we’ll keep strengthening it through awareness programs,” he said.
Despite the awareness programs through media and on site village consultations, there are still people who are tempted to break the law.
A special election for Fa’asaleleaga No 2 last year saw six cases brought against voters and village representatives involving making false declarations.
According to Faimalomatumua, three have already been successfully prosecuted in court and others are pending.
