3 Feb 2016

Failure to register to vote could mean charges in Samoa

3:26 pm on 3 February 2016

More than 300 eligible voters in Samoa could be charged with failing to register for the general election being held on March the 4th.

The acting electoral commissioner, Faimalotumua Mathew Lemisio, has told the Samoa Observer that data from Births, Deaths and Marriages show about 300 had not registered, and there could be more found from other sources.

Acting Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio

Acting Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio Photo: SUPPLIED / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

He said the law makes it compulsory for everyone who is eligible to vote to register.

That process ended last year with the names of 116,000 voters on the roll.

The paper reports that while some aspiring candidates already have posters up, the nomination period for prospective MPs will not begin until Monday next week.