There was a light drizzle as ballot boxes were loaded onto vehicles and transported from the Election Office in Tafuna to polling places across Tutuila.
Just before 4 am in the Election Office conference room, Catechist Vaa of the Futiga Catholic Church offered prayers for a successful and safe election, and urged the team leaders supervising today’s general election to carry out their duties with humility and patience.
Election Commissioner Dr. Lealofi Uiagalelei said the team leaders are aware of the important role they play, and he was confident that they will perform their duties with honesty.
With Election Office staffer Poe Faumuina calling out the names of each polling place, ballot boxes, “Vote Here” signs, and forms to record the election results were loaded on to vehicles, and transported under police escort to the villages.
First to leave were ballot boxes and team leaders for the farthest villages on the east and west side of the island. Polling places were opened at 6 am and will close at 6 pm.
The number of registered voters is 15,945.
A total of 1,310 absentee ballots were already cast up to yesterday. 134 were off island absentee ballots.
The local absentee ballots include 40 detainees of the Territorial Correctional Facility whose cases are pending and they are eligible to vote, as they have not been convicted.
Unlike previous years, where absentee ballots were counted at the Election Office, today the absentee ballots have been distributed to the districts in which the absentee voters are registered and they will be counted at the polling places of the respective districts.
Voting in Manu’a is usually over just before noon and the election results from the voting booths in Ta’u, Fitiuta and Ofu should be known by 1pm.
Election Commissioner Dr. Uiagalelei says the first results of voting on Tutuila should start coming in by 7 to 7:30 pm.
Voters will get two ballot forms. One has the names of the candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor, candidates for the congressional race and the candidates for the American Samoa House of Representatives. The second ballot form is for the veto override amendment.
Five of the 21 members of the House of Representatives have already been selected.
Su’a Alexander Jennings was selected for another term as the Swains Representative and four incumbents are running unopposed: Avagafono Vaimaga Maiava, Malaeoletalu Melesio Gurr, Faimealelei Anthony Allen and Fiu Johnny Saelua.
Police will be patrolling and guarding polling places and will also be checking on restaurants, bars and stores to enforce the ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol while the polls are opened.
Employers are reminded that all voters are entitled to two hours to vote on Election Day.
After a night of rain, thunder and lightning, the National Weather Service reports that the thunderstorms have passed to the west of Tutuila, however, as a trough remains over the islands there’s a possibility of additional thunderstorms forming later on.
Meteorologist Salu Hans Malala says rain will remain up to Friday.
