Election Office personnel worked over the weekend and will be working early tomorrow morning preparing for the Nov. 8 general election, in which more than 1,000 votes have been cast in early voting — through local and off island absentee ballots, according to chief election officer Uiagalelei Dr. Lealaofi Uiagalelei, who called for a peaceful election in American Samoa.

Uiagalelei along with candidates for all public office, traditional leaders and others have urged voters to go to the polls tomorrow to cast ballots for the gubernatorial, congressional and local House races. And election officials hope for a big turn out tomorrow, with 17,339 electors registered on the 2016 voter roll.

Several off-island absentee voters, including our sons and daughters in the military overseas, have already cast their ballots via mail. Uiagalelei says the Election Office received 171 requests for absentee ballots from off island voters — which include students attending institutions of higher education.

As of 10a.m. last Saturday, Nov. 5, a total of 97 off island absentee electors had returned their ballots and were received by the Election Office and the number does not include any absentee ballots which arrived last Friday night on Hawaiian Airlines via the US Postal Service, said Uiagalelei in a Samoa News interview over the weekend.

Uiagalelei said tonight’s Hawaiian Air’s flight will be the last incoming flight for the mail bringing ballots, which will be quickly sorted tomorrow by the U.S. Postal Service destined for the Election Office.

And as of 11a.m. last Saturday, a total of 1,231 electors have already cast local absentee ballots, the chief election office said, adding that these electors, include those who will be absent from the territory on election day, election officials and poll watchers working election day, and those who are confined to the hospital or their home.

Ballot boxes for the Manu’a Island group will depart early this morning on board the ASG vessel Segaula, accompanied by election officials, who will first conduct local absentee voting in Manu’a before polls open tomorrow.

Absentee voting started last month for individuals on Tutuila, and continues through today, ending at the close of business. Local absentee voting is barred by law from being carried out on Election Day.

Uiagalelei said voting would begin at 6 a.m. tomorrow, when all 44 polling stations open territory-wide for 12 hours. Like in past election years, polling stations in Manu’a usually close early, as soon as all registered voters have cast their ballots and results are relayed to the Election Office. The election team will return to Tutuila later tomorrow afternoon, bringing the boxes of ballots with them.

Election officials on Tutuila, including team leaders, are scheduled to report very early tomorrow morning to the Election Office in Tafuna for instructions, briefings and a prayer before heading out to the villages, accompanied by police escort.

“All election officials have already been sworn,” said Uiagalelei who added that while team leaders report to the Election office for their briefing, election workers can report directly to the polling stations they are assigned to.

Election officials, as well as ballots, should be at each polling station before 6 a.m. Swains Island voters will cast their ballots for the gubernatorial and congressional races at the Election Office.

Uiagalelei reminds the public, including all candidates running for public office as well as their supporters that giving away free food on Election Day is banned under local law; and any loud music near polling stations is also prohibited.

Election officials remind supporters of candidates as well as others not to block the right of way of voters heading to and from the polling stations and this issue is expected to be stressed to poll watchers and others before the polls open.

Yellow tape (similar to that used by police at a crime scene) is expected to be set up denoting the boundaries around a polling station, especially in polling stations held at Guest Houses (fales). Uiagalelei urged candidates and their representatives to comply with these policies.

If any elector upon arrival at the polling station has any questions — for example, if a ballot is accidentally marked wrong, which is considered a “spoiled ballot” — the Election Office says to please make sure election officials are consulted for the proper procedure of getting a new ballot. He pointed out: There is a process for accounting for a "spoiled ballot".

“Go to the polls to vote. It's your right,” Uiagalelei urged voters.

OTHER ISSUES

And employers — both public and private sectors — were last week reminded by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga regarding local law, which entitles an employee — who is an elector — to leave on election day for voting. The law states in part that electors on the day of election are entitled to be absent from any service or employment for a period of two consecutive hours, excluding any lunch or rest period between the time of opening and closing of the polls, to cast ballots.

Another provision of the law (ASCA 6.0503 — Exemptions of qualified electors on election day), states that: “Every qualified elector shall be privileged from arrest on election day while at his polling place and in going to and returning therefrom, except in case of breach of the peace then committed, or in case of treason or felony.”

ALCOHOL SALE BAN AND POLICE

The sale or dispensing of alcoholic beverages is banned during the time polls are open, according to local law. Police are also expected to enforce this law in cooperation with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

At the same time, police will continue their patrol and enforcement up to the day after election to ensure a peaceful 2012 general election.

Election officials are hoping for good weather tomorrow so that there is a better turn out at the polls.

Samoa News joins the Election Office in urging voters to get out there and vote. It’s your right.