Samoa is heading to the polls today for the country's general election.Voting opens an hour earlier than usual, at 8am, and will close at 3pm.There are 164 candidates contesting the election today, 81 from the ruling Human Rights Protection Party, 23 from the Opposition Tautua Samoa Party and 60 independent candidates.This is the first year women candidates have been guaranteed five of the 49 seats in Parliament, and this year boasts a record 24 women candidates.One woman candidate, the caretaker Minister of Justice, Fiame Naomi Mataafa has already secured her place in Parliament, running unopposed in the Lotofaga constituency.The caretaker Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is among the three other candidates unopposed.Results are expected to start coming in from as early as 4pm onwards, and a liquor ban, put in place to ensure the smooth running of the polls, and to keep the peace, is in place until 6am Saturday.