One more political party has registered for next year's General Elections.

The Sovereign Independent Samoa Party (S.I.S.) becomes the fifth and newest political outfit to officially register for the polls.

The announcement of the party’s registration was made by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner, which gave notice of the party’s official registration on Wednesday 29 April 2020.

According to the Electoral Commissioner's announcement, the new party’s Secretary, Fagalilo Agnes Su’a, said S.I.S. is seeking to campaign on substantive and important issues about Samoa’s development and growth. 

"Notice is hereby given that the Sovereign Independent Samoa Party (S.I.S.) is now registered in the Register of Political Parties Pursuant to ection 5 of the Electoral Act 2019," a notice from the Commissioner reads.

This makes the S.I.S. the fifth political party contender for the elections next year.

The other four include the ruling Human Rights Protection Party, Tautua Samoa Party, Samoa First Political Party and newcomer Samoa National Democratic Party (S.N.D.P.). 

Earlier this year, seven political parties were removed from the electoral registry after the groups failed to pay for their registration fees before 31 January 2020.

The struck-off parties include the Samoa National Party, Samoa United People’s Party, Samoa mo Samoa Party, The Christian Party, Samoa Party, The People’s Party and Samoa Democratic United Party (S.D.U.P.).

Political parties are subject to pay an annual registration fee of $1,000 tala.