Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Election Office has made available since last Friday, June 29, nomination papers for those candidates for the local House of Representatives and the Delegate to the US House seeking public office in the November 2018 general election.

Election officials told Samoa News last Thursday that a print out registration list per district for candidates along with a candidate manual to help them familiarize themselves with the election process and election laws, campaign spending and petition forms  are also included in this package for candidates.

Local election law states that Delegate to the U.S House shall be nominated by filing a petition signed by at least 300 qualified voters, with a filing fee is $500. For the local House race, a candidate shall be nominated by filing a petition signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the district from which the candidate seeks election. Filing fee is $300.

Deadline to file to be a candidate is at the close of business on Sept. 1, 2018.  And the Election Office encourages all those seeking public office for the 2018 election to file their papers, including the petition, as early as possible.

Samoa News notes that as in past election years, the Election Office, thoroughly checks each and every person who signs a candidate’s petition to ensure that the person is a registered voter and voting from the district the candidate is running— when it comes to the local House race.

In the Congressional race, Congresswoman Aumua Amata has already announced her plans to seek re-election. The only challenger so far who has made an official announcement, through advertisement last month in the Samoa News, is Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman who has unsuccessfully in past elections, challenged the incumbent.

For the local House race, all incumbents are expected to seek re-election.

Meanwhile, election officials remind those who haven’t registered to vote, to stop by the Election Office and register to vote.  Documents needed to complete voter registration include: Birth Certificate/ Passport, Social Security Card and Photo ID — they must be 18 years old, a US citizen, or US national to qualify.

For our UOCAVA Voters (Military and Overseas voters), requests for absentee ballots started Jan. 1, 2018 and will run until Oct. 23, 2018, according to the Election Office.