When Samoa next goes to the polls in 2021, there will be at least one additional seat in parliament.
Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
A Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed in parliament yesterday which allows for a Legislative Assembly that will comprise of one member elected from each of the 51 electoral constituencies.
There will be no more "territorial constituencies" as is the current status.
Women still have to take up 10 percent of the legislative assembly under the amendment.
This means parliament could effectively become a 56 seat assembly if no women are successfully voted in as at least five would have to be awarded positions in the House.
The current Urban Constituency seats will also no longer be part of the composition of parliament.
The changes will come into effect after the current parliament is dissolved.
Any Constitutional amendment must be accepted by two thirds of the membership.
Yesterday 44 MPs voted in favour of the change and 2 voted against.
