LA’AULI WINS ELECTION, AWAITS SWEARING IN
By: Joshua Lafoa’i
While La’auli Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt is the official winner of the Gagaifomauga #3 by-election, it does not end the process for the Office of the Electoral Commission.
From the by-election results, it has been determined that an estimated 500 registered voters did not cast their ballot.
And Commissioner of the Electoral Commission Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio and staff are reviewing the issue as required by law.
And voters who do not abide may face court prosecution.
“We’ve been told that quite a few of those who weren’t able to vote were overseas for seasonal work, others have passed away, so were looking into it at the moment,” said the Electoral Commissioner.
“It’s possible around 200 to 300 of those who didn’t vote could be overseas for seasonal work or have passed away. Legally, we cannot remove a name from the rolls unless we satisfy all criteria mandated under the law,” he added.
However, he says the OEC will begin to comb through the list.
The fines for those who are eligible to vote but have not registered is $2,000 tala for the first time caught, but if they do not register a second time around, the fine will hop to $4,000 tala.
For those who have registered but have not cast a vote, the fine will be a $100 tala.
Faimalomatumua also addressed multiple complaints regarding the mobile registration system the OEC had been carrying out. He says while the routes have been established, the OEC will again roll out in the coming weeks to revisit all locations.
“We want everyone to exercise their right to vote, so we hear the queries and were coming out again,” he added.
With the official declaration by the Head of State, the next step for La’auli is to be sworn it.
That will be left to the Speaker of Parliament to announce.
