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Voters approve 5 of 11 Constitutional amendments and decline the rest

Referendum Ballot envelope
Joyetter@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Secretary of Interior’s power to appoint the Chief Justice; decide appeal cases and override the governor’s veto remains intact under the American Samoa Constitution.

The results of the referendum which proposed 11 amendments to the constitution as endorsed by the local voters, five were passed the rest were declined.

According to the results released this morning at 6:14 am by the Election Office; the amendments approved included the right given to the Swains Delegate to vote in the House of Representatives, after the 116 years Swains has been a Territory of the United States, since the Guano Act of 1856.

Swains Island was made a part of American Samoa by an Act of Congress, not by a Deed of Sessions, on March 4, 1925 and has been part of American Samoa for 97 years.

Other amendments approved are the impeachment process of the governor and Lt governor; amending the government’s official name from Government of American Samoa to American Samoa Government; changing of Ma’uputasi to Ma’oputasi and the amendment from Leasina to Leasina ma Aitulagi.

Below are the unofficial results on referendum released by the Election Office at 6:14am today.

1. The Governor shall appoint the Chief Justice and Associate Justices subject to confirmation by the Legislature.

O le a filifilia e le Kovana le Faamasino Sili, ma Sui Faamasino Sili ae faamaonia e le Fono Faitulafono.

YES/IOE 2294

NO/LEAI 4525

2. The Secretary of Interior shall not have the power to change the decisions of the High Court of American Samoa. 

O le a le toe iai se pule a le Failautusi o le Initeria e sui ai faai’uga a le Faamasinoga Maualuga o Amerika Samoa.

IYES/IOE 2736

NO/LEAI 4096

3. The Secretary of Interior shall not have the power to change the Legislature’s override of the Governor’s Veto.

O le a le toe iai se pule a le Failautusi o le Initeria e sui ai le faaleaogaina e le Fono le vito a le Kovana.

YES/IOE 2566

NO/LEAI 4217

4. This amendment shall add one (1) seat to Representative District– Ituau and, add one (1) seat to Representative District –Tualauta. The total number of Representatives would increase from 20 to 22.

O lenei suiga o le a faaopoopo ai le Faipule e tasi (1) i le Ituau ma se Faipule e tasi (1) i Ma’upu (Tualauta). O le a sui ai le aofa’i o Faipule mai le 20 i le 22.

YES/IOE 3330

NO/LEAI 3400

5. This amendment shall include “Malaeimi” in Representative District No. 12 – Ituau.”

O lenei suiga o le a aofia ai “Malaeimi” i le Itumalo Faafaipule o le Ituau.

YES/IOE 3208

NO/LEAI 3574

6. This amendment will give the delegate from Swains Island the right to vote in the House of Representatives.

O lenei suiga o le a tuuina atu ai i le Faipule o Swains le aia tatau e palota ai i le Maota o Sui. 

YES/IOE 3883

NO/LEAI 3001

7. This amendment will restore five (5) Senators to Manu’a. The total number of Senators would increase from 18 to 20.

O lenei suiga o le a toe fa’aatoa ai le lima (5) o Senatoa o Manu’a. O le a sui ai le aofa’i o Senatoa mai le 18 i le 20.

YES/IOE 2586

NO/LEAI 4389

8. This amendment shall include an impeachment process of the Governor and Lt. Governor.

O lenei suiga e auiliili ai faagasologa e faatula’i ai le Kovana poo le Kovana Lutena.

YES/IOE 4084

NO/LEAI 2656

9. This amendment shall change the name “Government of American Samoa” to “American Samoa Government”. 
O lenei suiga o le a suia ai le “Government of American Samoa”i le “American Samoa Government”.

YES/IOE 3916

NO/LEAI 2852

10. This amendment shall change “Ma’uputasi” to “Ma’oputasi”.

O lenei suiga o le a suia ai le “Ma’uputasi” i le “Ma’oputasi”.

YES/IOE 3922

NO/LEAI 2824

11. This amendment shall change “Leasina” to “Leasina ma Aitulagi”.

O lenei suiga o le a suia ai “Leasina” ia “Leasina ma Aitulagi”.

YES/IOE 3787

NO/LEAI 3015