Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Chief Election Officer, Uiagalelei Lealofi, has officially “certified as candidates” four individuals in the Sept. 12, Special Election for Representative District No. 1, Manu’a. And Uiagalelei also provided a new update on the start of local absentee voting — which began yesterday.

In an election notice released after 4:30p.m. on Aug. 09, the Chief Election Officer announced the certification of the four candidates after the “deadline to challenge candidates has expired.”

The certified candidates — and the spelling of their names, as released by the Election Office — are: Faauifono Vaitautolu, Leifitele Aliitama Sotoa, Mailo Oge T. Nua and Paepaetele Mapu Jamias.

LOCAL ABSENTEE

Election officials had said last Friday that local absentee voting for registered voters of District No. 1- Manu'a, was to begin on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

However, Uiagalelei’s announced in the election notice that absentee voting was to begin yesterday, Aug. 10 at 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Only those registered voters who will be traveling outside the territory before the September 12 2023 Special Election are eligible to vote in absentia at the Election Office Hall in Tafuna, according to Uiagalelei.

Hours of operation for Absentee Voting: Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday, from 7:30 am - 12:00 pm.

Any questions, call the Election Office at 699-3570.