4 Sep 2020

American Samoa readying for absentee voting due to Covid-19

3:32 pm on 4 September 2020

The American Samoa Senate is preparing legislation to allow people stranded overseas by Covid-19 to vote in the November 3rd poll.

The bill states that with less then 3 months until the general election for governor and lieutenant governor, the House of Representatives and the delegate to the US Congress, flights to the territory remain suspended due to the pandemic.

Close-up Of Person Putting Stack Of Letters In Mailbox

Photo: 123rf

It's thought more than 500 residents are waiting for flights to resume so they can return home.

The preamble of the bill states. "so that the border closure does not inadvertently disenfranchise those stranded off island, the government must prepare a process for them to vote by mail."