Translated from FaaSamoa. Up to four people have so far been charged by police for attempting voter registration fraud reported by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner (OEC).
Samoa Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo said investigations are still underway and so far, four have been charged for identity fraud under the Crimes Act 2013.
Two attempted to register using someone else’s birth certificate and the others had forcibly signed on behalf of others to verify their residency status.
“Of the 4 already charged there is one female and 3 males.”
Auapaau confirmed the maximum penalty is 5 years imprisonment if convicted.
Electoral Commissioner Tuiafelolo Toleafoa John Stanley said these were the types of issues faced by the staff of OEC during the mad rush to register voters following the announcement of a snap election.
According to Tuiafelolo, the OEC had also earlier reported a person who had held himself out to be a candidate (sui faaolioli) for presenting a letter fraudulently signing the name of a faifeau to verify a voter’s registration.
Sa faailoa mai fo’i e Tuiafelolo, sa latou tuuina atu fo’i se sui tauva faaolioli i le Ofisa o Leoleo matagaluega leoleo, i lona faia lea o se tusi e faamaonia ai se tagata resitala, ma ia saini ai le suafa o se faifeau ma le faamoemoe e faamaonia ai le resitala.
“These are the tyes of behaviour we have had to deal with in the past few weeks..” said the Electoral Commissioner.
When the Electoral Roll closed last week, 87.2% of potential voters had registered from 117,225.
Over 15,000 citizens residing in Samoa who are eligible to vote had failed to registered.
“That is a concerning number,” said Tuiafelolo. “It is disappointing that the people did not take advantage of the opportunity to register when the Office set up registration booths across Samoa, in villages, even workplaces.”
Samoa goes to vote on the 27th (pre voting for eligible elderly and persons with disabilities) with the main polling on the 29th of August 2025.
This week is the Nomination Period where all candidates are being registered with OEC.
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