A total of 252 voters from the three constituencies heading to by-election have registered for pre-polling that starts on Wednesday morning.

The elected representatives of the three constituencies of Faleata No. 4, Siumu and Vaa o Fonoti had their seats vacated after resigning from the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) late last year to trigger the by-elections this week. 

In an interview on Tuesday with the Electoral Commissioner, Tuiafelolo John Stanley said the pre-polling opens at 9 am and closes at 4 pm on Wednesday. 

There are 152 voters registered for pre-polling in Faleata No. 4, 74 for Siumu and 26 in Vaa o Fonoti. The Office of the Electoral Commission (O.E.C.) has set up one voting booth for each constituency for the pre-polling. In terms of total voters, Faleata No. 4 now has a roll of 2,253 registered voters, Siumu has 2,259 voters and Vaa o Fonoti currently has 1,670.

In Faleata the pre-polling booth is set up at the Toamua EFKS hall, in Siumu another booth is placed at the Voice of Christ church in Siumu Sasae, and the Va’a o Fonoti booth is located at Taelefaga. 

Those eligible to apply for pre-polling are senior citizens aged 65 years and older, people with disabilities, essential workers and those travelling prior to the by-elections. 

“The total number of votes on pre-polling will be recorded and all ballot boxes will be taken to the Police station afterwards,” said Tuiafelolo. “On the main polling day on Friday we will have preliminary results will be counted in the presence of scrutineers to verify them before the ballot boxes are locked away by Police. 

“On Saturday Police will bring the ballot boxes to Salamasina for the official count.” 

The Electoral Commissioner confirmed that there are 129 officials on duty for the by-election which includes 45 police officers. Two police officers will be stationed at each polling booth which are all stationed at church halls and buildings in the three districts. 

Tuiafelolo said there have been no major issues in the lead-up to the by-elections. There are eight candidates vying for the three by-elections. 

In Faleata No. 4 former M.P. Ale Vena Ale is flying the Fa’atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) banner and is up against independent candidate and former top bureaucrat Ulu Bismarck Crawley. 

Siumu district has three candidates in the former M.P. and F.A.S.T candidate, Tuu’u Anasii Leota as well as H.R.P.P. candidate, Tuu’u Amaramo Sialaoa and independent, Faalogo Kapeli Faalogo. 

The Va’a o Fonoti contest is between F.A.S.T. candidate and former M.P., Mau’u Siaosi Puepuemai, H.R.P.P. candidate, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri and Feutagaiimealelei Osovale Brown representing the Constitution Democracy Republic Party (C.D.R.P.).