oec.gov.ws Voter Registration : Office of the Electoral Commissioner Samoa

Organisation : Office of the Electoral Commissioner Samoa
Facility : Voter Registration
Country : Samoa

Voter Registration : https://www.electionin.org/uploads/1189-RegistrationpamphletEng.pdf
Home page : http://www.oec.gov.ws/Home/tabid/4988/language/en-US/Default.aspx

OEC Samoa Voter Registration

** Must be 21 years or more
** Must be a Samoan Citizen

Related : Electoral Commissioner Samoa General Election 2016 Results : www.electionin.org/1659.html

Requirements for Registrations

** Passport or Birth Certificate

Determination of Constituency :
** Registered matai of such Constituency
** Where elector resides at time of registra-tion
** Has matai connections through parents, brother or sister who are registered matais in such constituency

Change of Constituency :
** The Electoral Act allows the elector to transfer his/ her Constituency in which the elector is registered after 5 years of first registration or transferred.

Disqualification for Registration

** Detained under mental health Ordinance 1961
** Detained in prison under conviction
** Persons on corrupt practices list

Confirmation of Residency :
Drivers license
** Invoices/ bill.eg, water bills, telephone and electricity bills.
** NPF documentation
** NHS Id card
** Bank statements
** Land deeds
** Mayors declaration
** Church Ministers declaration

Required Documents

Registration is easy if you bring the following docu-ments:
1. Matai:
** bring your Matai Certificate to confirm that your name has already been registered.

2. Non-Matais:
** Birth Certificate or
** Passports (valid)
** Marriage Certificate
** Other Identification if needed
** Old voting ID

Why Register?  :
** It is regulated in the Electoral Act, that it is compulsory for every eligible Samoan Citizens to register
** Failure to register is an offence, and can result in being penalized
** Most IMPORTANTLY, if you do

NOT REGISTER, you do NOT VOTE :
“IT IS YOUR DUTY TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE BY COMING VOLUNTARILY TO REGISTER YOUR NAME IN THE ELECTORAL ROLLS AT THE OFFICE OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER”

Grounds for Registration Challenge

An applicants registration may be challenged on the grounds that he/ she:
** Is not a Samoan Citizen
** Is a minor (not 21 years)
** Is not of sound mind
** Is not a resident in a particular Constituency
** Is already registered as an elector
** Is not the person he/ she claims to be (impersonation)
** Is prohibited by law from registering as a Voter
** Is registered using untitled names but not their matai titles

Registration Offences

A person,
** Register as an Elector when that person does not qualify to be registered
** Register as an Elector more than once
** Register using the name of another person whether that person is dead or alive
** Using force or threat of force (physical/ spiri-tual) to prevent one from registering as a Voter
** Providing false information to registration offi-cer for the purpose of securing registration
** Printing any form relating to the registration of Voters without authority from the Electoral Commissioner

Objections

Electors objection :
Any elector may at any time object to the name of any person being on the roll for any Constituency on the ground that;
** The person is not qualified as an Elector in terms of the Electoral Act 1963
** The name should appear on some other roll

Commissioners objection :
** The Commissioner may at any time object to the name of any person being on the roll on the ground that person is not qualified to be regis-tered as an elector

General Advice :
** Register in the Constituency where you reside
** Avoid multiple registrations, since the biometric voter registration system will expose you and you will be liable for prosecution
** Avoid impersonation

Since only qualified Samoan citizens are allowed to register as voters it will be helpful if applicants pre-sent the following documents,

** Birth certificate or
** Valid Passport
** Matai certificate to confirm that you have already registered your title
** Marriage certificates
** Old voting ID card