10 Sep 2018

Early voting to start in American Samoa

2:48 pm on 10 September 2018

American Samoans expecting to be away for the American mid-term election in November can vote early starting from tomorrow.

Ballots were printed over the weekend for the US Congressional and American Samoa House of Representatives races after the chief election officer Lealofi Uiagalelei certified candidates for the polls.

A voter in American Samoa signs on the voter rolling at the Ili’ili polling station.

A voter signs on the voter rolling at the Ili'ili polling station in American Samoa in 2016. Photo: Fili Sagapolutele

There are three candidates running in the Congressional race, including incumbent Congresswoman Aumua Amata, and 55 candidates for the 20 elected seats of the local House of Representatives.

Only one incumbent for the local House of Representatives is not seeking re-election.

There are also ballots for the veto override referendum, which seeks to amend the local Constitution, giving the local legislature the authority to override the governor's veto of a bill, instead of the US Secretary of Interior as at present

Early votes can be placed at the election office up until the day before the election.